The primitive carved faces, coats-of-arms, and date-stones built into the main entrance are all that remain of the original Montgomery family house, which once stood proudly on this site. These architectural fragments, salvaged and incorporated into the later structure, offer a tantalising glimpse into the grandeur that once was.

The Montgomery family, who held considerable influence in the area during the 16th and 17th centuries, built their house at Greenfield as a statement of their wealth and status. Though the main house has long since disappeared, these carved elements were carefully preserved when the gate-lodge was constructed, perhaps out of respect for the family’s legacy or simply as a practical reuse of quality stonework. The primitive style of the faces suggests they may have been carved by local craftsmen, adding a distinctly Irish character to what was likely an otherwise formal estate.

Today, visitors to Convoy House can examine these intriguing relics embedded in the gate-lodge walls, each piece a silent witness to centuries of Irish history. The date-stones help historians piece together the timeline of the estate’s development, whilst the coats-of-arms speak to the social aspirations and heraldic traditions of Ulster’s landed gentry. It’s a poignant reminder that even the grandest houses can vanish, leaving only fragments of carved stone to mark their passing.