Old Mountjoy, 205 Gortin Road, Mountjoy Forest East Division, Gortin, Co. Tyrone, BT79 7JQ

An asymmetrical two-and three-storey multi-bay castellated country house, built c.1780, remodelled c.1820, and located at the east side of Gortin Road on the slopes of Mullaghcarn. Appears to be generally L-shaped on plan with projections, some gabled sections, and three-stage square tower. Pitched natural slate roof, hipped in parts; angled ridge tiles, leaded hip caps. Variety of rectangular and circular chimneystacks, some ashlar, some rendered with corbelled and serrated caps. Gutters concealed behind crenellated parapet. Walling is part ruled and lined rendered, part ashlar stone; rubble stone conical tower to west end. Windows are round-headed Y-tracery timber sashes to upper floors, gables and tower, some grouped in threes and fours and sharing a timber frame, some grouped and separated by plain masonry mullions, some single, all with label moulds. Square-headed windows to ground floor, some uPVC replacements evident. Projecting masonry sills. Principal elevation faces north. The First Survey description of 1974 reads as follows: 'Long two and three storey house with recessed and broken N front. Roofs slated. Chimneys stone and at least two circular. Walls stone, partly rendered and lined, partly dressed stone and partly sandstone rubble. Generally crenellated parapet at eaves with frieze moulding. N front has a gable with three storey square tower adjoining. Hexagonal turret at NW corner and round turrets at quoins of projecting gable on S front. Windows generally double-hung, panes arranged in groups of 2, 3 and four and singly. Some have semi-circular arch heads, some ...(illeg.)…arch head and on S front lintel head with moulded stone architrave and drip moulding to upper windows. Most other windows have drip mouldings. Stucco chimneys have (serrated?) edge smoke baffles and no hats. Entrance on N front approached by three moulded stone steps. Door panelled and drip moulding over lintel.' Setting: The house is set within an extensive wooded demesne, accessed from SW by a long winding drive lined with mature trees and surrounded by forest. Cement rendered alcoved castellated entrance walls with double cast-iron gates from main road. There is a gravel forecourt to the north front of the house, and outbuildings are evident to north east. Roof: Natural slate Walling: Rendered / sandstone Windows: Timber / uPVC RWG: Parapet gutters