Stableyard, Knockballymore, Lislea, Maguiresbridge, Co. Fermanagh, BT94 4PY

Stableyard at Knockballymore, Lislea

A well-proportioned U-plan stableyard situated north of Knockballymore House, constructed in rubblestone with fine brick and sandstone dressings. The stableyard dates from the mid-19th century, though outbuildings at Knockballymore are recorded on the 1834 Ordnance Survey map. The extensive use of brick trim around window and door openings suggests the complex was substantially built or rebuilt between 1840 and 1859. Many original horse-boxes remain in situ.

The stableyard is entered from the east elevation by a pair of semicircular-headed tongue-and-groove doors, which lead to a barrel-vaulted brick ceiling. The yard is laid out in gravel with a cobbled path running its length from the coach house. All three blocks are two storeys and similarly detailed. The roofs are natural slate with hipped profiles, overhanging eaves, and skylights to the rear pitch of the coach house. Half-round cast-iron rainwater goods are fitted throughout. Walls throughout are rubble stone with brick dressings. All doors are tongue-and-groove sheeted with sandstone keyblock surrounds and semicircular-headed brick arches above. All windows are 6/6 sliding sashes with stepped brick reveals and stone cills.

The entrance block is aligned north-south and comprises four bays. The rightmost bay is slightly higher and has a chimney to its left gable, the exposed section of which is blank. Its right gable is completely abutted by the return of the house. To the extreme left end of the block is a semicircular-headed arch opening; to its right is a door opening with a window opening aligned above. Bay 2 contains a window opening to the left with a door opening to its right. Bay 3 has a door to the left and a window to the right, with a window opening above at first floor centre. The rightmost bay has a door set to the right, and to its left each floor has two windows.

The coach house is aligned east-west and comprises three bays. It features a central projecting gable with dressed and stepped stone quoins, a brick eaves course, and a harled bellcote surmounted by a bell. To the ground floor of the gabled bay is a semicircular-headed opening containing a pair of doors, with a sash window with cambered head above. The left bay has a door set to the right with two windows to its left; aligned above to the first floor right is a diminished-height window. The right bay is similarly detailed but is one window wide.

The stableblock is aligned north-south, enclosing the yard. Its first floor is five windows wide. The ground floor contains three tongue-and-groove sheeted doors with the remaining openings being windows. The rear elevations are blank.

Knockballymore House was erected by the Earl of Erne for his agent around 1740, making this stableyard an important component of the 18th-century estate. The stableyard is listed for its architectural interest in style, proportion, plan form, and quality and survival of interior features, as well as its setting and group value with the principal house. It also has local historical interest.