Cruckaclady Farmhouse
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This farmhouse was built during the 19th century as one of an irregular cluster of dwellings called a clachan. It 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 its early occupants 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 be 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, such as west Donegal ,could acquire cash with which to pay the annual rent.
It was moved from the Glenelly Valley, an upland area in the Sperrin Mountains in County Tyrone. The farm comprised about 7 acres (2.8 hectares) of arable land close to the house and more distant mountain grazing for cattle and sheep.
Original location: Cruckaclady townland, near Plumbridge, County Tyrone
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