12 Circular Road, Moneymore, Magherafelt, Co Londonderry, BT45 7PY

12 Circular Road is an impressive semi-detached house of 1832, built by the Drapers Company as part of a deliberate scheme to improve the appearance of Moneymore village and provide better quality dwellings. It was designed by architect William John Booth and constructed by D Magee for £775, commenced in 1830 and completed in 1832. The house forms part of an important early example of village planning, comprising this property, its neighbour, and another similar pair north of the Second Presbyterian Church.

The building is constructed of ashlar sandstone and comprises three bays across two and a half storeys, with a side porch and back return. Despite its severe design, it displays impressive classical detailing. The front elevation faces west onto Circular Road and is set well back from the road with a short avenue approach.

The Circular Road elevation features on the ground floor two tall vertical eight-pane windows, with two smaller four-pane squarish windows directly above them on the first floor. To the side is a flat-roofed porch (recently converted to a low pitched lean-to roof) approached by four steps, containing a framed and six-panelled fielded door with a low wall to the steps. Above the porch is a two-pane window, with a semi-circular headed two-pane window in a pediment above that. The lower member of the pedimented gable is missing and the gap has been filled with plaster. A clasping pilaster stands to one side of the porch wall. The porch itself is built of ashlar sandstone with a solid parapet wall and two modern two-pane windows on the flanking wall. The front elevation has flat soffit with extruded ogee guttering and a single downpipe, with a central shared chimney stack in sandstone connecting to No. 10 Circular Road. The roof is covered in natural slates.

The small back return to the south, probably original to the 1832 build, is one and a half storeys with a pitched slated roof and window in the gable. It is constructed of ashlar sandstone to the side but of pink sandstone on the gable. A more recent single small back return has been added to this. A wall divides the backyard from No. 10. A well-maintained range of outbuildings stands to the rear, with neatly painted white stonework and an access lane serving all properties. An old cast iron pump survives in the yard, though it may not be original.

The interior of No. 12 is well preserved, as is the back return. An old fire insurance sign survives under the soffit on the front façade. The house has been little altered over the years except for the replacement of windows. Unfortunately, balustrading was erected in front of the house in recent times. The building sits within the conservation area and observes the fixed building line of the village plan.