Favor Royal, Favour Royal Road, Augher, Dungannon, Co Tyrone, BT77 OEW

Favor Royal is a mid-sized Tudor manorial style country house built in 1825, set in an extensive demesne on the south side of Favor Royal Road. The demesne is bounded to the north by the River Blackwater, to the east by Derrymeen Road, to the south by the border with County Monaghan, to the west by the church of St Mary's Portclare, and to the northwest by Favour Royal Road.

The Main House

For descriptive purposes, the front elevation is considered to be the northwest-facing elevation containing the main entrance. The right (southwest) and rear (southeast) elevations both face the open parkland, while the left (northeast) elevation faces the house yard with farmyard beyond.

The house is two storeys high with gabled attics and part basement, and three bays wide. It has a three-pile pitched natural slate roof with ridges running parallel to the façade, plus an additional roof running parallel to the right elevation, creating an E-shaped roof profile. Decorative gables with pinnacles and numerous chimneystacks give the roofline definition. Ridge tiles are of dressed stone. The chimneys are typically three tall square-section stacks set at angles on a common base, topped with crested metal pots.

The walls are of stugged sandstone blockwork with an advanced basecourse with cavetto moulding at sill level. At wallhead is a moulded Gothic stringcourse which follows the line of the numerous decorative gables. Over the cornice is a blocking course with saddle coping. Each gable is topped by a slightly tapering barley-sugar finial resting on a bulbous corbel.

To the front, right and rear elevations, a parapet gutter drains to four main downpipes on the right (southwest) elevation. These are very finely dressed with conical moulded hopper heads and quarter-attached cylindrical downpipes, with clasping bands and a two-stage basecourse. These elements give this elevation vertical emphasis and depth. To the left and part of the rear elevations there is no parapet and the roof is drained by lead downpipes with similar hoppers.

Front (Northwest) Elevation

The front elevation is three bays wide with a single-storey, open, castellated porch to the central bay. The left and right bays have decorative gables.

The porch has a flat roof with embattled parapet and is of sandstone matching the main block, with a two-stage basecourse. Each face has a large Tudor opening with moulded chamfered reveal. At the front corners are angled buttresses terminated with gabled pinnacles. A moulded eaves cornice and parapet over has saddle coping with each merlon having a chamfered head. The porch ceiling has gone but conical corbels in the corners suggest it once had a ribbed and vaulted plaster ceiling.

The main entrance is recessed within the house and accessed by five slightly bow-fronted steps, each a single piece of stone, rising to a four-panelled (vertically) door with brass knob and pole-moulded Gothic-style architrave. The door has Gothic-headed sidelights and overlights, all multi-glazed with heavy glazing bars in a simple Gothic manner. The door and sidelights are set within a plain deeply chamfered Tudor-headed opening. Its reveal and the walls to the porch recess are in painted lined plaster.

Each of the remaining bays on ground and first floors has a rectangular window opening containing four narrow two-over-two sliding sash windows with chamfered timber mullions. Each top sash has a delicate ogee head, and over, filling the spandrels, are matching inverted single-paned transoms, with mullions rising around to frame all. All openings have chamfered reveals and sills and a drip mould over. The first floor windows are slightly diminished in height and their ogee heads are more depressed than those at ground floor.

At attic floor in the gables to left and right bays are smaller window openings containing three four-over-four sliding sashes without horns or drip moulds. In the central bay at attic level, just below eaves, are two small narrow arrow-loop three-paned windows.

Right (Southwest) Elevation

This elevation is three bays wide, the central bay being wider than the other two which have decorative gables. The left and right bays are identical to those on the front elevation and are framed by the stone rainwater goods described previously.

The central bay has a canted bay window at ground floor. It has a two-stage basecourse and castellated coping as the front porch. Its front face has a tall window similar to the others at ground floor but higher, with Gothic-headed sashes rather than ogee ones. Its transoms align directly over each sash, creating small fixed spandrel panes between, unlike the other windows. Its cheeks each have matching single-sash sidelights. On the main wall to left and right of the canted bay window are single narrow window openings, each containing a pair of ogee-headed two-over-two sash windows.

At first floor, aligned above, are similar windows, slightly diminished in height, which are set slightly higher than those to the extreme left and right bays. Between them, over the canted bay window, is a matching three-sash-wide ogee-headed window. Above at attic level are two narrow three-paned arrow-loop windows.

The window to first floor of the left bay and that to ground floor of the right bay are dummies. Their internal reveals are infilled; that to ground floor is plastered and painted black, and that to first floor is exposed brickwork with no internal trace of either.

Rear (Southeast) Elevation

The rear elevation is two bays wide with the left bay slightly wider than the other and detailed as the main house, while the right bay is more plainly detailed, as the yard-facing left elevation.

The left bay has a decorative gable to centre. It has two windows, each four sashes wide, to each floor. Those to ground floor are taller than the ground floor windows to the front and right elevations but are similarly detailed. Those to first floor are as the other first floor windows. In the gable is an attic window as the others in gables.

The right bay is set slightly back from the left one and has a different floor configuration, being four-storey but with a similar eaves height. The chamfered basecourse is lower than that to the main block. There are three windows to each floor. All are sliding sashes without horns, set in chamfered reveals. They vary in height from floor to floor. The left one on each floor is a two-over-four sash. The remaining sashes are all four-over-four with timber mullion, except for those to second floor which are taller and contain six-over-six sashes without mullions. Those to ground floor have external grilles over.

Left (Northeast) Elevation

This elevation fronts the house yard and is three bays wide, each gabled, with left and right bays advanced. The central bay is wider than the other two. All have slightly advanced ashlar copings and moulded kneelers. Walls are slightly more roughly dressed than those to the rest of the house.

The central bay is abutted at ground floor by a single-storey lean-to return with basement below. The central gable has two chimneystacks centred on the gable. The lean-to return has a monopitched natural slate roof. Its central porch has a pitched natural slate roof with stone kneeler. There is a tongue-and-groove sheeted entrance door on the front face with a seven-paned mouth-organ transom over. Its left and right cheeks are blank. On the lean-to wall, to left and right of the porch are single eight-over-eight sliding sashes with external bars. At basement level the porch is supported on a barrel vault over the basement passage. The basement wall to left has a large multi-paned segmental-headed sash window; a similar opening to the right end of the basement contains a pair of low tongue-and-groove sheeted doors with large multi-paned transom over.

Above, to the central gable, filling half-landing and first floor levels, is the large gallery window lighting the stairwell, with depressed Gothic head, stone voussoirs and chamfered reveals. Window mullions are in timber separating two outer lancets and a central flat-headed pane, all sliding sashes. All have timber Gothic margin panes and the central one has a rose window in its head. A small stone above has the date "1825" raised. On the wall to its left is an eight-over-eight sash window and to its right is a twelve-over-twelve sash set slightly higher, serving the servants' staircase.

At first floor left is an eight-over-twelve sash window and to right, set at a higher level to the servants' staircase, is a twelve-over-sixteen sash. To second floor, set to left, is a wide twelve-over-twelve sash, and set to right of centre is an eight-over-eight sash.

The left bay, slightly advanced, is abutted at ground floor by a range of outbuildings enclosing the rear of the yard. The main gable has three chimneystacks on a common base set to right of centre, and moulded eaves to its right (yard-facing) cheek. To second floor right is a two-over-two sash window. The yard-facing cheek is abutted at ground floor by the lean-to of the central gable and above is a small two-paned casement window.

The right bay, slightly advanced, is abutted at ground floor left and centre by a range of outbuildings enclosing the front of the yard. Its attic gable has four chimneystacks on a common base set to left of centre. The gable has moulded eaves to its left (yard-facing) cheek which is blank and abutted at ground floor by the lean-to on the central gable. The gable has a two-over-two sash window at second floor left. Its exposed section at ground floor right is narrow and has a large carved stone plaque, its bottom edge moulded possibly as a door lintel. The inscription in raised letters states "WELCOM TO COM IN A / ND AS WECOM TO GO BY." Between these lines are two carved flowers between which is the date "1670". This plaque was taken from the earlier house on this site which burnt down in 1823, and appears to be of similar stone to the current house.

The House Yard

The house yard abuts the northeast elevation of the house and is enclosed to the rear (southwest) by a long two-storey block incorporating original kitchens at the join with the house and advancing beyond the house yard into the farmyard at left. Two separate blocks enclose the front of the house yard. The first, at the join with the main house, is the servants' hall and the other is a slightly narrower and lower outbuilding. The end of the yard is enclosed by a single-storey brick lean-to against a masonry wall with a coachway to its left side (as viewed from house yard) topped by a bellcote.

Servants' Hall

The servants' hall has a pitched natural slate roof with stone ridge tiles and ashlar copings, eaves and kneelers. Metal rainwater goods. Its exposed gable end (southeast) is abutted slightly to right of centre by a much narrower single-storey outbuilding. On the exposed wall to left is a small six-paned casement in a chamfered opening with a similar blind opening to the gable apex.

The yard-facing elevation of the servants' hall is blank at ground floor and has two windows at basement level, both twelve-over-twelve semicircular-headed sashes with bars over.

The front-facing (northwest) elevation of the servants' hall is set slightly back from the front elevation of the main house. It has a similar basecourse and is three windows wide, each a narrow four-over-four sliding sash without horns in a chamfered opening. Its eaves course is formed by moulded cast-iron gutter with lead downpipe to right end. At ground right is a large basement shaft with passage leading parallel with this elevation under a vault and passage leading out towards the front drive; the opening is covered with a large iron grille.

Outbuilding Enclosing Front of House Yard

This derelict building is narrow and formerly had a pitched natural slate roof, the ghost of which can be seen against the servants' hall gable. Its front-facing (northwest) wall is divided into six identical bays, each separated by a buttress with a decorative gable just above eaves level. Each bay has a chamfered window opening with bars over; the right one retains its original twelve-over-twelve sash window. The lintel of the fourth opening from left has gone and many of the buttress gables have toppled. This elevation has been detailed to complement the main entrance of the house which lies to its right.

Its yard-facing elevation is more plainly detailed with four openings. At left is a window with plainly dressed stone surround and sill, the other openings are similarly dressed doorways. Two applied buttresses flank the central door. To immediate right of the fourth opening is a small window that has been created within the infilling of a larger opening.

Its right gable end is completely abutted by a similar end block. The end block shares the same roof profile which terminates in a hip. Its natural slate roof is intact. The yard-facing wall has similar eaves course and masonry construction to the front outbuilding but is of a lesser quality. Its end gable has a doorway with transom over and faces into the farmyard. Its front (driveway-facing) elevation is partially abutted by an irregularly constructed lean-to of no interest.

Outbuilding Enclosing Rear of House Yard

This block is two storeys and long, enclosing both house yard and part of the farmyard. The pitched natural slate roof is partially collapsed and has an advanced ashlar eaves course carrying metal rainwater goods. There are two brick chimneys, the largest serving the former kitchen range. Walls are as the left (yard-facing) elevation of main house. All window openings have dressed stone sills and brick reveals and heads.

The outbuilding has three bays to the yard, the central one wider than the other two. The right bay at join with main house has two tall nine-over-nine sliding sash windows with bars over, serving the former kitchen. The heads of these windows rise to first floor level. To extreme right at first floor is a small four-paned casement window.

The central bay is symmetrical. At ground floor centre is a semicircular-headed niche with dressed stone voussoirs. To its immediate left and right are single tongue-and-groove sheeted doors with stone lintels with masonry jack arches over. To left and right of these is a six-over-six sliding sash window with bars over. Above the central arch and each of the ground floor windows are single three-over-three sash windows.

The left bay is symmetrical and has a door to centre as the previous doors to central bay. To its left and right are window openings. That to left has been bricked up and that to right contains a six-over-six sliding sash with bars, the meeting rail of which is in line with the door lintel. At first floor, in line with each ground floor opening, is a three-over-three sliding sash window.

The rear (southwest) elevation of this outbuilding has a flight of cantilevered stone stairs at left end at join with main house, leading to a modern glazed sheeted door with ten-paned transom over, just at eaves course. To first floor right is a six-over-six sliding sash window with bars over. Its central bay has two windows to each floor. Ground floor left has a six-over-six sash, to its right is a four-paned casement. To first floor is a three-over-six sash window. The right bay has a six-over-six sash window set into a former doorway with brick dressings; at left above is a three-over-three broad sash window with stone sill and lintel.

The northeast end of the house yard is enclosed by a high masonry wall which separates the house yard from the farmyard. This wall ties into the end gable of the front range of outbuildings. Where it meets the front range there is a segmental-headed carriageway with stepped coping, on which rests a flat-topped bellcote, the bell missing. The remainder of the wall has a single doorway which leads into a single-storey brick outbuilding which abuts its house wall face. It has three windows, all are three-paned casements with brick jack arches and stone sills.

Farmyard Adjacent to House Yard

This farmyard is L-shaped. It continues along the same lines as the house yard in a northeast direction and then turns in a southeast direction. It is enclosed by three two-storey outbuildings: the continuation of the rear range from the house yard, a barn to front, and a block enclosing the northwest end, aligned northeast-southwest. Its southeast boundary is enclosed by a high wall with doorway to right side leading towards the garden cottage. The wall has a bellcote to top with bell intact.

Continuation of the Rear Outbuilding from the House Yard

This range seems earlier in detail with softer stone construction and raised one-piece ashlar reveals to openings. It may belong to the house of 1670 which burnt down in 1823.

Its farmyard-facing elevation is three narrow bays wide. Each contains a tongue-and-groove sheeted door at ground floor, flanked by half-sized sidelights once containing fixed eight-paned windows. Doors and sidelights are dressed in ashlar with raised base blocks and over the door a decorative keystone is carved into the lintel. There is a masonry relieving arch over each door and its sidelights. At ground floor right the opening has been enlarged and the doorway and sidelights removed, with only the arch remaining. It is abutted by a brick lean-to of no interest. To each bay at first floor is a six-over-six sliding sash window with bars over; that to the left end has been blocked with masonry. The left end of this elevation is terminated by a buttress which steps out and is irregularly dressed to first floor, suggesting that another adjacent building has been demolished.

The left gable is in two stages, with the first floor stepped back slightly. To first floor is a six-over-six sliding sash with brick dressings and similar jack arch.

The rear elevation of this block, enclosing the rear of the farmyard, has a rear return at right end. The remaining rear wall has a doorway at ground floor left, the door gone, and at ground floor right is a small six-paned casement window. At first floor left is a three-over-three sash window with brick reveals, stone sill, and bars over.

The rear return has a slightly lower eaves level and its pitched roof has been stripped of slate. Its rear gable is blank. The left cheek is in red brick with a small casement window to either end. It has two dressed quoins to its rear left corner, salvaged from elsewhere. Its right cheek is in stone and fronts the rest of the farmyard. To centre is a doorway with an ashlar architrave and advanced decorative keystone, the door gone. To left and right are single three-by-five-paned centre-pivoted Georgian glazed timber windows with ashlar architrave. Above the central door is a tongue-and-groove loading door with similar architrave.

Barn Enclosing Front of Farmyard

This derelict building is two storeys high. The pitched natural slate roof is stripped and collapsed. Stone walls are as other buildings, with dressed eaves course. Its front (northwest) elevation is symmetrical with three segmental stone archways. The left one is open, others are infilled with masonry. At left corner at first floor level is the spring of an arch of a former coachway, retaining only two voussoirs, with a similar one on the rear wall, no trace of the coachway. The left gable of the barn is blank.

Its farmyard-facing (southeast) elevation is symmetrical consisting of two semi-elliptical stone archways with stepped stone voussoirs; between these to first floor level are two small ashlar stone openings with bars over. The left end of this elevation is partially abutted by the end outbuilding of the front range of the house yard.

Outbuilding Enclosing Northwest End of Farmyard

This outbuilding is two-storey/three-bay with its pitched roof, the slates gone. The central bay is narrower than the other bays. There are three chimneys: one to each gable in stone and a brick one to the central bay. Walls are squared rubble stone brought to courses. All openings have advanced finely dressed architraves. Ground floor window heads are higher than those to the doors, and the first floor window heads hit eaves level.

The left bay has a tongue-and-groove door set to ground floor centre, with a keystone to its lintel. It has an infilled window opening to left and right, each with a masonry jack arch over. Above the door at first floor is a lower loading doorway, the door gone; and above the ground floor windows are smaller window openings, the frames gone.

The central bay has a door to left as the previous door, and to its right is a nine-over-nine sash window with jack arch over. Above the door is a small nine-paned centre-pivoted timber window.

The right bay has two segmental-headed archways with tongue-and-groove doors. Aligned above each arch is a window as that to the central bay.

The left gable of this outbuilding is lower as the ground falls away. It has a doorway to right. At a higher ground floor level is a small four-paned fixed window. To first floor are two small narrow ventilation openings.

The rear elevation is abutted to left of centre by a single-storey return. The remaining elevation at right has a small six-paned sash window at left end and a larger eight-over-eight sash window set to the right. At first floor there are four ventilation openings. The remaining elevation at left has a six-paned window set to the right at first floor.

The return has a pitched natural slate roof which has collapsed. Its right cheek has two small four-paned windows with stone sills. Its end gable has a tongue-and-groove sheeted loading door at first floor. The left cheek has two door openings to centre with a small narrow window to either end.

Setting

The demesne has a number of features of interest. The main entrance to Favor Royal Road has an attractive single-storey Tudor-style gate lodge on the northwest side of Favour Royal Road, and on the southeast side the main gates are wrought iron on large masonry piers with ogee caps which probably carried heavy ball finials. The entrance is set within a concave wall quadrant with rubble battlemented coping and piers as those to the gates at either end.

The serpentine main driveway runs in a southeast direction through an area of mixed woodland. When it meets the open parkland it then runs east, crossing a small single-span bridge with rubble battlemented coping. The stream below flows from the Blackwater River to the north to the now drained lake at the south. The driveway then continues east to the main house, which it passes to the north, continuing beyond the house yard and farmyard to a pigsty and weigh house, a second, later, farmyard, a walled garden and gardener's house. A branch from the main driveway runs north just to the east of the main house and is carried by a single-span bridge with rubble battlemented copings over the Blackwater River and back onto Favor Royal Road.

To the immediate southeast of the main house, on a terraced east-facing hillside, is a small derelict garden cottage.

Much of the parkland has been heavily planted by the Forestry Commission. The areas close to the house retain their original planting. To the southwest of the main house is a meadow valley with informal deciduous planting and lake now drained. When standing at the south corner of the main house looking west, the church of St Mary's Portclare, which was built by the Moutrays in the 1830s, can clearly be seen through the groups of trees. The church is likely to have been built on this site to be an eye-catcher as its location is an integral feature of the designed landscape.

There are the remains of an ornamental rockery immediately opposite the house porch and beyond, falling downhill to the immediate north, a meadow which runs to the Blackwater. To the immediate south of the main house is a group of mature yews on a raised bed, forming a belt of over-mature planting along the south side of the house and yards leading towards the walled garden. To the immediate south of the house is a small meadow and to the southeast is the terraced hillside in front of the garden cottage.