Ballynagard House, Culmore Road, Londonderry

Ballynagard House is a large two-storey double pile house of five bays wide on its entrance front, situated on an elevated site with panoramic views of Lough Foyle near Londonderry. The building is constructed of random rubble schist with red brick trim, and features a variety of gabled and hipped slated roofs. Large two-storey semi-circular end bays and a canted bay to the front are notable features, with several back returns of single and two-storey form. A large conservatory is positioned on the south side.

The entrance facade faces east and comprises a two-storey gabled block with the fanlighted entrance asymmetrically placed at the south side. The entrance door features a wide segmental fanlight with radiating astragals, side screens with glazed upper portions, glazed pilasters, cornice and a six-panelled door. Adjacent to this, a large two-storey canted bay is entirely faced with red brick and contains 18-pane sliding sash windows on each ground floor facet and 12-pane windows above. The next two bays on each floor contain similar windows in 12 and 9 panes respectively. From the south gable projects a single two-storey bay with lower eaves and smaller sliding sash windows of 12 panes on the ground floor and 9 panes on the first floor. The south gable features a red brick semi-circular bow with three 12-pane sliding sash windows on the ground floor and 9-pane windows above. The north gable has a similar bow, aligned with the higher eaves line, with matching window arrangements. The main blocks are topped with straight pitch natural slated roofs with red ridge tiles. The canted bay is similarly slated with lead hips and ridge. The bows have gradated natural slates.

The entrance facade walls are built of random schist stonework with brick trim to doors and windows and brick quoins. The single two-storey bay has smooth rendered walls with brick-trimmed windows, brick quoins and a double brick eaves course. Eaves generally lack overhang except for half-round metal gutters. The southern gables feature concrete barges and one smooth rendered chimney.

On the south side, a stone-built random rubble two-storey block returns and extends three bays long with three sliding sash windows at first-floor level. A large conservatory projects from its ground floor. On the north side, a two-storey block of similar height to the principal facade returns, measuring two bays long and built of random rubble schist with brick trim to windows and brick quoins. A large round-headed window on the north face lights a secondary staircase, with a doorway below. The south gable contains two sliding sash windows on ground and first floors with plaster reveals. This block has a slated roof hipped with red hip and ridge tiles, and two smooth rendered chimneys on the ridge.

The west side comprises a mixture of different two-storey buildings including a lean-to roof against the double pile gable and a large single-storey return containing the kitchen. Most walls on this side are smooth rendered with brick trim. A large round-headed window lights the main staircase. Several outbuildings facing onto a grassed courtyard display a pleasing symmetrical arrangement. A central higher block, three bays wide, features an arcade of bricked-up arches on the ground floor. These outbuildings are built of random rubble schist trimmed with red brick. Some pitched roofs are slated whilst others are covered with corrugated asbestos. The outbuildings are largely intact and detached from the main house.

The grounds have recently been laid out in terraces with low walls and planted areas. Access to the house is via a long sweeping avenue from Culmore Road, where a gate lodge and gates mark the entrance.