'Rathmoyle', 122 Glenarm Road, Larne, Co Antrim, BT40 1DZ

Rathmoyle is a substantial two-storey suburban residence of approximately 1898, built in the Free Style manner characteristic of the 1890s. The building stands on a slight rise at the junction of Glenarm Road and Hawkinge Avenue on the northern outskirts of Larne. It is rendered throughout in unpainted cement render with channel-jointed lining to the ground floor of the south and east elevations.

The building is roughly L-shaped in plan, comprising a main square gabled section to the east, a large full-height gabled return to the west, a single-storey flat-roofed section (apparently originally a walled yard), and a substantial two-storey gabled former outbuilding now converted to residential use.

The principal architectural feature is the use of full-height curved bays with distinctive conical (actually curved hip) roofs topped with saw-tooth fire clay ridge tiles and decorative finials. These occur on the south gable of the main section and across the east elevation, where two large full-height curved bays dominate the façade. Each bay contains three sash windows per floor, typically Edwardian in character with clear glazing to the lower sash and four square panes to the upper sash. Hood mouldings project above ground-floor windows, arranged closely enough to form an almost continuous string course.

The main entrance is positioned at ground level in the large bay to the left of the south gable. It comprises a panelled timber door with rectangular fanlight, approached beneath a lean-to veranda with geometric patterned wrought iron framework (displaying oriental influence) supporting an obscured glass roof. The porch area has a terrazzo floor. The west-facing elevation of this bay contains a mainly glazed door (not fully visible during survey).

Decorative stylised bartizan-like projections at first-floor level appear on the southeast corner of the main block and the right edge of the east elevation, each topped with an ogee roof and decorative finial. These details suggest influence from the nearby Ballygally Castle.

The north gable of the main section contains a single window to each floor on the right side. The return section to the west features a large modern picture window and glazed door on its ground floor facing north, and three unevenly spaced windows to the first floor; the two western windows have plain upper sashes filled with obscured glazing for bathroom use. The south face of the return includes a full-height bay matching those on the east elevation, with a single plain sash window to each floor beside it, the ground-floor window retaining its hood moulding.

The single-storey flat-roofed section linking the return to the former outbuilding contains plain-sheeted and modern glazed doors with sidelights. A recent open lean-to attached to its north face serves as a carport. The former outbuilding, now integrated as living accommodation, contains modern picture windows and high-level windows with modern frames.

All main roof sections are slated and gabled, with three rendered chimneysstacks (one to each main gable) topped with cornice-like courses. The main section and return feature relatively tall rendered parapets with verge courses and kneelers, and cornice-like eaves courses. Cast iron rainwater goods are throughout.

The property is set in landscaping including a small garden to the east and a tarmac driveway to the north with a larger garden beyond containing a timber-framed greenhouse.

Historically, the building is recorded on the 1903 Ordnance Survey map as 'Manhattan House', an unusual name suggesting a possible New York mercantile connection on the part of the original owner. Revaluation notebooks indicate the construction date as 1898, with John Wilson recorded as the original resident (present by 1908). The name 'Manhattan House' does not appear in contemporary Belfast and Ulster directories for Larne in the 1890s or early 1900s, and was dropped before 1921, absent from OS maps of that year and subsequently. The property has been known as Rathmoyle since its conversion to a residential home around 1986, immediately prior to which it housed a veterinary surgery.