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Collections & Research --» Folk Collections --» Rural Buildings --»

CRUCKACLADDY FARMHOUSE

Original location: Cruckaclady townland, near Plumbridge, County Tyrone

This farmhouse, built during the 19th century as one of an irregular cluster of dwellings (a clachan), was moved from an upland area, from the Glenelly Valley in the Sperrin Mountains in County Tyrone.  The farm was of about 7 acres (2.8 hectares) of arable land close to the house and more distant mountain grazing for cattle and sheep.

The building very cleverly used the lie of the land to include a byre under the bedroom. This saved considerably on the materials and labour needed to provide shelter for both humans and animals, and the positioning of the byre at the lower end of the house meant that effluent flowed away from the dwelling.

Among the early occupants of the house was an elderly couple who had a servant girl from County Donegal. It was common for young boys and girls to attend the Spring 'Hiring Fair' and get themselves hired as farm labourers or domestic servants for six months. They would get paid at the main Autumn fair and return home for the winter months. In this way families in poorer areas like west Donegal could acquire cash with which to pay the annual rent.

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