24 Cookstown Road, Moneymore, Magherafelt, Co Londonderry, BT45 7QF

A three-bay, two-storey house with basement, built of stone faced with natural slate roof. The building exemplifies Palladian proportions with a square plan.

The front elevation is the principal feature. A flight of seven steps ascends to the entrance, which comprises a fine classical Roman Doric composition with three-quarter engaged columns on each side of a six-fielded panel door. The doorcase has pedestal bases, glazed side screens in margin glazing, and outer pilasters supporting an entablature of triglyphs and metopes with cornice, all executed in ashlar sandstone. The entrance landing spans across the basement area. Above the door at ground floor level are three 12-pane double-hung sliding sash windows of lesser height. At first floor are three similar windows, also of reduced height. The basement has two 6-pane double-hung sliding sash windows protected by metal grills.

The walls are built of redstone, snecked with fine lime mortar joints. A sandstone band stringcourse defining the ground floor circumscribes the building. The roof is natural slate with triple hips, valleys running parallel to the front, and lead ridges, hips and valleys. Two wide chimney stacks straddle the ridge of the front roof with very tall pots, and a further stack stands between the second and third roofs. Good roof overhang surrounds the building on all sides, supported on pairs of moulded sprockets, with fascia, ogee metal guttering and downpipes (not visible on the front façade).

The south-east elevation has a single large 8-light window with tall lower lights divided into 5 panes each and no opening lights, balanced by a blank of similar size. At first floor are two 12-pane double-hung sliding sash windows and a blank of equal size, evenly spaced. The basement has one 6-pane double-hung sliding sash window with a single downpipe, flanked by two blanks. The triple roof piles are not expressed on this side, probably not original.

The south-west elevation features four 12-pane double-hung sliding sash windows at ground floor and similar windows at first floor, evenly spaced but of lesser height. The basement has four 6-pane double-hung sliding sash windows with iron grills. This elevation contains eight vertical pipes: one downpipe and seven waste and ventilation pipes.

The north-west elevation has an arched 18-pane double-hung sliding sash window at the staircase and passing landing, with 6-pane double-hung sliding sash windows above and below (the latter with iron grill). To the right is a projecting bay with lean-to roof housing a toilet. To the left a 12-pane double-hung sliding sash window serves a first floor room. The paired soffit sprockets continue around all elevations. At basement level is a sheeted door and a single 6-pane double-hung sliding sash window contained within a smooth rendered panel.

A forecourt extends in front with lawns around the south and west. A terrace to the north-east is accessed by steps from the basement area opposite the back door and from the main avenue.

To the west, outbuildings are grouped around an enclosed yard, accessed from the terrace and from the main avenue. The principal outbuilding is a two-storey stone-built four-bay coachhouse with two 2-pane double-hung sliding sash windows on either side of external steps leading to a first floor door. Both gables are without windows. The yard-facing façade has two segmented arched coach doors and two single sheeted doors. At first floor are three louvred openings. The roof is slated and hipped.

At the south-east end of the yard is a part open and closed shed or store with three open bays supported by circular cast iron columns carrying timber beams. Flanking these are random stone-walled enclosures with a single sheeted door to each. The remainder of the yard is enclosed with stone wall featuring double gates at the coachhouse gable.

The property sits in secluded wooded grounds with a long avenue approach from Cookstown Road. The brick gate piers are not original, the result of recent road realignment.