Thatch Bar, 116 Hillhead Road, Castledawson, Magherafelt, Co Londonderry, BT45 8ET

Thatch Bar is a public house located approximately three miles west of Toome on the Toome/Castledawson Road, adjacent to the main Belfast/Londonderry trunk road, in the townland of The Creagh. The building dates from between 1820 and 1839.

The structure faces north-east behind a low wall and is approached from Hillhead Road via a sharp right turn. The front elevation, which is of considerable architectural importance, retains traditional character and is whitened roughcast. The roof is thatched with wheat straw (replaced following a fire in 2005) and finished between cement skews. Three corbelled red brick chimneystacks are positioned—one on each gable and one serving the central bar hearth, without pots.

The entrance comprises a timber-sheeted door with sidelights, flanked by a lean-to porch roofed with the main thatch covering. The front elevation includes four window openings with louvered shutters (two to the south-east, two to the north-west) and a further timber-sheeted entrance door serving the end bar. The windows contain twelve panes with the top three hinged, and have narrow sills. The second window from the left lights part of the lounge, which was previously roofed with substitute slates but is now incorporated under the main thatch.

The rear and flanks have been substantially altered and extended in piecemeal fashion with flat and lean-to roofs and a high yard wall, which obscure these elevations from view. Following the 2005 fire, an inappropriate flat-roofed extension to the north-east gable was given a pitched roof finished in natural slate, with its ridge kept slightly lower than the main thatch.

The building is documented on the 1831 Ordnance Survey map. Historic records suggest it was probably the property recorded as belonging to Anthony Johnston in the 1830s valuation. By 1858, it was under the leaseholder James Johnston with Michael Mulholland as occupant. The building originally functioned as a post office before becoming a licensed premises. Subsequent alterations include formation of the projecting porch and incorporation of the left section of the building as the business developed. Planning consultation for major extensions occurred in November 1999, with advice to locate additions at the rear around a restored courtyard.