20 BOND'S HILL

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A mid-terrace two-bay two-storey with attic, ruled and lined rendered late-Victorian house, built c.1890 as a terrace of three similar dwellings (Nos18-20 (HB01/09/006 L-N)) which filled a gap in the overall terrace of sixteen buildings at Bond's Hill between Nos 9-17 (constructed in c.1839-49) and Nos 21-24 (c.1865). Rectangular plan form facing west with two-storey modern return to the rear.

Pitched natural slate roof with wide chimney stack to left (north) on party wall with No.21 (HB01/09/006 O) which has buff clay pots. Projecting eaves with timber fascia on projecting modillions (some paired), 4 to each side of dormer, and supporting ogee cast iron gutter discharging to uPVC down pipe to right of front elevation. Projecting string course detail runs below modillions. Ground and first floor openings are segmental-arched with flat stucco architrave detail with stopped chamfers, projecting keystone to centre of arch and extended corners, all painted in a contrasting colour along with the stone sills (continuous sill course to first floor windows). Windows are 2/2 double glazed timber sliding sash with horns unless otherwise noted.

Front (west) elevation is ruled and lined render with painted finish. The main entrance to far right has a four-panelled timber door with single-pane overlight. Front door is 2 steps up from the street, opening terminates at base at plinth which is slightly projecting and in contrasting colour. Door is flanked to left by a single window. Two windows to first floor (not aligned with ground floor openings and narrower proportion). Centrally positioned pitched roof wall-head dormer with 2/2 timber sliding sash window set within a round arched opening. The apex of the dormer gable is dressed with barge boards with stopped chamfer detail and collar tie.

The north side is fully abutted by No.21 Bond’s Hill (HB01/09/006 O).

Rear (east) elevation is painted cement render finish. Two-storey pitched roof replacement rear return to left has a blank south face and a blank first floor to east gable (with vents). Pitched roof wall-head dormer to right with square-headed uPVC casement window. Ground and first floor not fully visible at time of survey.

The south side is fully abutted by No.19 adjacent (HB01/09/006 M).

Setting:
Part of a terrace of sixteen buildings of varying styles which line the east side of Bond’s Hill stepping up the hill. (HB01/09/006 B-R).

Materials:
Roof : Natural Slate
RWGs: Cast Iron
Walling: Ruled &Lined Painted Render (W) Painted Render (E)
Windows: Timber sliding sash (W) Casements (E) (where seen)
Doors : Four panelled painted timber front door

Historical information

Bond’s Hill was laid out in c.1839 in order to provide access to Ebrington Barracks (which had been constructed between 1839 and 1841) and was one of the first streets to be developed on the Waterside District of Londonderry during the 19th century. The current site of Bond’s Hill remained undeveloped in the 1830s with no buildings depicted on the first edition Ordnance Survey map. Hume states that prior to 1841 the Waterside consisted of a single street and possessed 105 houses. The area was slow to develop due to the steepness of its hills and as a result of expensive tolls that were imposed on carts and pedestrians crossing the city’s wooden bridge. Hume states that the construction of the barracks and the setting up of industrial establishments initiated the rapid development of the Waterside and drew people into the city from the rural hinterland east of the Foyle. In 1849 the Londonderry Standard described the change in the area in the following terms: ‘The Waterside, which from being some 20 years since, little more than a small street, has now become a place of considerable importance having a distillery, two large mills for the manufacture of oatmeal and a third about to be erected’ (Hume, pp 32-34).

Calley states that Bond’s Hill was named after the owners of Clooney House, a late-18th century house which stood at the top of the hill (now demolished and replaced with terraced housing). The street was first depicted on the Ordnance Survey Town Plan of 1848-49 which records that a number of houses (including a church on the current site of the Former Reformed Presbyterian (Covenanter’s) Church – see HB01/09/006A) had already been constructed along the route by that time. Nos 9-24 Bond’s Hill, a terrace of two and three-storey Victorian houses also known as Melrose Terrace, was constructed in stages between c. 1840 and 1891.

Nos 18-20 Bond’s Hill, a terrace of two-and-a-half-storey two-bay dwellings, were built in 1890-91 filling a gap between nos 9-17 (constructed in c. 1839-49) and nos 21-24 (c. 1865). The Annual Revisions note that the three buildings were leased by William Drysdale, a local shipping clerk and musician who resided at the adjoining No. 21. Drysdale initially leased No. 20 Bond’s Hill to a Mr. Robert Perry, however Perry had moved to the neighbouring No. 18 by 1901. The contemporary Ordnance Survey Town Plan (1904-05) depicted the building along its current layout (although the original rear return was replaced in c. 1999). The Census of Ireland records that the house lay vacant in 1901 but by 1911 No. 20 Bond’s Hill had been occupied by Joseph Alexander Gilfillan, a local bookkeeper. The census building return described the house as a second class dwelling which consisted of seven rooms and possessed a shed as its sole outbuilding. Gilfillan’s family continued to reside at No. 20 Bond’s Hill until at least the 1970s. Under the First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1936-57) the value of the house was increased to £18 although this was further raised to £24 by the end of the Second General Revaluation (1956-72).

Nos 9-24 Bond’s Hill were listed in 1979. The NIEA HB Records note that c.2000 No.20 Bond’s Hill underwent an extensive renovation which converted the former private dwelling into three self-contained apartments. The conversion included the construction of the current two-storey rear return and the reorganisation of its interior floorplan (NIEA HB Records).

References

Primary Sources
1. PRONI OS/6/5/20/1 – First Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1830)
2. PRONI OS/6/5/20/2 – Second Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1853)
3. PRONI VAL/12/E/157/1 – Annual Revisions Town Plan (c. 1873-1910)
4. PRONI VAL/12/B/32/14A-14G – Annual Revisions (1860-1897)
5. PRONI VAL/12/B/33/4C-4D – Annual Revisions (1898-1930)
6. PRONI VAL/3/C/6/13 – First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1936-57))
7. PRONI VAL/4/B/5/18 – Second General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1956-72)
8. Londonderry Standard (5 Jul 1849)
9. Ulster Town Directories (1843-1918)
10. Census of Ireland (1901; 1911)
11. First Survey Record – HB01/09/006B (No Date)
12. NIEA HB Records – HB01/09/006N

Secondary Sources
1. Calley, D., ‘City of Derry: An historical gazetteer to the buildings of Londonderry’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 2013.
2. Hume, J., ‘Derry beyond the walls: Social and economic aspects of the growth of Derry 1825-1850’ Belfast: Ulster Historical Foundation, 2002.
3. Thomas, A., ‘Irish Historic Town Atlas, No. 15: Derry – Londonderry’ Dublin: Royal Irish Academy, 2005 - includes Ordnance Survey Town Plan (1904-05).

Online Resources
1. Digital Atlas of Derry - http://www.ria.ie/digitalatlasderry - including Ordnance Survey Town Plan (1848-49)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
S. Authenticity
T. Historic Importance
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A mid-terrace two-bay two-storey with attic, ruled and lined rendered late-Victorian house, built c.1890 as a terrace of three similar dwellings (Nos18-20 (HB01/09/006 L-N)) which filled a gap in the overall terrace of sixteen buildings at Bond's Hill between Nos 9-17 (constructed in c.1839-49) and Nos 21-24 (c.1865).
Bond’s Hill was laid out in c.1839 to provide access to Ebrington Barracks (HB01/09/002A-II) which was constructed between 1839 and 1841. The terrace properties were constructed along the east side of the street over a fifty year period resulting in a terrace which displays the progression of design and detailing through the Victorian period.
The dwelling was converted c.2000 into three self-contained apartments and, although its original external character and robust detailing survive to its front elevation, its layout has been substantially reorganisation with the loss of a large amount of internal historic fabric and detailing. Part of an overall terrace of sixteen buildings of varying styles, it has group value with Nos 9-19 & 21 Bond’s Hill (HB01/09/006B-M & O). Although altered, it is integral to the group value and interest of the terrace that, as a whole, is a good example of the type.