Drumalla House, 111 Bay Road, Carnlough, Ballymena, Co Antrim, BT44 0HP

Drumalla House is a mid-19th century building that has undergone significant alteration, resulting in the loss of many original features and a substantial reduction in its architectural character and value.

The main structure is a two-storey, three-bay house with rendered walls and a hipped roof of Bangor blue slates laid in regular courses, with a modern flat-roofed two-storey extension attached to one side at the rear. The entrance faces east.

The entrance elevation is rendered with roughcast, though some repair patches have been made in smooth render. Lower wing walls extend to each side of the main front, topped with stone knobs at their extremities. The elevation contains one window to each side of a central projecting flat-roofed porch. The windows are rectangular timber sliding sash, 6 over 1 without horns, set in plain reveals with projecting cills, except for the central first-floor window which contains casements. The porch has panelled corner piers rising to an entablature and moulded cornice, with a cast iron gutter and PVC downpipe. The front of the porch contains a five-light window with fixed panes and a top-hung vent. Each side of the porch has a doorway comprising a glazed and panelled rectangular timber door surmounted by a two-light fanlight. The doors are approached by a flight of concrete paved steps flanked by modern steel railings. A modern iron fire-escape ladder is attached to the front façade in the corner to the right of the porch, rising from the roof of the porch.

The south elevation is of similar character to the entrance front, with windows that are sashed 6 over 6, set in raised rectangular surrounds. One chimney stands at the left-hand end, rendered in smooth cement with original pots. An original canted bay on the left-hand side of the ground floor contains sashed windows similar to the others. A later modern canted bay to the right-hand side has a flat roof and timber fascia with large rectangular fixed light windows, PVC gutters and downpipes. Modern rectangular glazed flush doors open from the left-hand end of the ground floor.

The rear elevation is largely obscured by later additions of poor quality which completely enclose a small rear yard. This yard contains a modern fire escape stairway and a small flat-roofed block.

The north elevation has roofing and walling similar to the other elevations. The main front block contains windows sashed 6 over 6, while the long rear return contains modern metal fixed lights with top-hung vents. A later flat-roofed block projects to the right-hand end.

The building stands within the built-up area of the town, facing the main road but set well back from it within its own grounds. The front boundary is formed by modern steel railings on a low cement rendered plinth wall. One original corner boundary pier, rendered with a moulded cap, is retained. The main entrance gates are modern steel railings on square steel posts. A tarmac driveway leads to a tarmac parking area in front of the house, bordered by concrete kerbstones. A grassy plot in the front garden contains some mature trees, and the house and garden overlook the sea to the front. A service yard lies to the right of the house, and a small enclosed garden to the left with a modern two-storey flat-roofed addition to the rear. The garden to the left is approached by a small looped ironwork pedestrian gate with octagonal cast iron posts.

The house was built in 1854 by Lady Londonderry as a residence for her agent Richard Wilson. Originally known as Stoney Hill House, its name was changed to Drumalla sometime after 1866.