Knockballymore, Magheraveely, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, BT94 4PY

Knockballymore

A mid-18th-century symmetrical double-pile house of two bays (the left bay being wider) and two-and-a-half storeys plus basement, located in extensive grounds to the south of Lislea Townland on the north-east shore of Knockballymore Lough. The building is aligned north-south and accessed by a long serpentine driveway from the road, beyond which stands a stable-yard.

The roof is hipped natural slate with a shallow pediment rising from eaves level at the centre. Three tall cement-rendered chimneys are positioned: one at each end of the south pitch and one, wider, at the centre of the north pitch. The eaves feature corbelled moulded stone detail with a moulded cornice to the pediment. Rainwater goods are half-round metal. The walls are wet-dashed with stepped V-jointed stone quoins; the basement is lined and cement-rendered to the façade only. All dressings and cills are stone. Platbands mark the floor level of each storey: that to the ground floor is chamfered, the first floor flush, and the second floor moulded. All windows are timber sliding sashes with horns; those to the basement have cast-iron security grilles.

The principal elevation faces east. At the centre is a large twelve-panelled timber door with a semicircular spider-web fanlight over, set in a keyblocked Gibbsian surround and accessed by six stone steps enclosed by modern metal railings. To either side are two 6/6 windows. The first floor has five 6/3 windows aligned above the ground-floor openings. The second floor is blank except for a small Diocletian window set into the pediment. The basement has two semi-elliptical-headed 6/3 windows to either side.

The south elevation displays a 4/4 window at the extreme right end and another at left of centre at ground-floor level, with a blind window to the left end. The first floor has a 4/2 window at the left end and another at right of centre, with a blind window to the right end. The second floor has four 2/2 windows: one to either end and one to either side of centre. The basement is enclosed.

The rear elevation has the basement at ground level with all openings featuring semi-elliptical heads. At the centre is a double-leaf timber door, each leaf consisting of a single lower panel and a narrow 2x2 glazed upper section. Two 6/3 windows flank this door. Above, each floor has five windows: those to the ground floor are 6/6, whilst those to the upper floors are 6/3.

The north elevation is abutted by a return to the left end. Due to topography, the exposed section is one storey over basement to the east, falling to three storeys at the west. The exposed section has a 4/4 window to the right end of the ground floor, and the second floor has four 2/2 windows placed as those to the south elevation. The return has a pitched natural slate roof and rubble-stone walls with vestiges of lime-render. All openings have brick reveals and jack-arches.

The east elevation has a 6/6 window to the ground floor and a small semi-elliptical window to the basement (at ground level). The north elevation is abutted by the lower stable-block. The exposed section is cement-rendered and blank.

The west elevation has a pair of 2x3 timber side-hung casements to the lower level, set in a stepped stone reveal with cast-iron security grille over. The central level has a tongued-and-grooved sheeted door to the left and a 2/2 window to the right. The upper floor has two 2/2 windows. A metal fire escape is affixed to both the west elevation of the return and the exposed section of the north elevation.

The house is set within attractive grounds well concealed by extensive woodlands. It is fronted by a large forecourt and sloping lawn, bisected by the long serpentine driveway. To the rear is a tiered garden. The stable-yard abuts the house at the north. The driveway is accessed from the road by a pair of decorative wrought-iron gates supported on similarly detailed gate piers. Opposite stands a small orchard containing the remains of an octagonal garden house.