8-10 Victoria Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

The building, with the exception of the ice-houses, was demolished in July 2001 prior to listing. This description records the building prior to that date.

The complex comprises a 1½ storey office and living accommodation fronting onto Victoria Road but set back about six metres. It has a semi-detached front with two gables, two entrances side by side, one to the office and the other to the manager’s living accommodation. Under this block two ice houses taking up the differential in ground levels. Beyond the ice houses further office and storage accommodation with access from the lower ground level to the ice houses. To the south of the rear premises and at right angles to it a two storey salmon factory and between it and the side of the ice houses a two storey structure with lean-to roof.

Formerly the fishery building had direct access to the slipway at the riverside but after the construction of the Donegal Railway a tunnel was formed under it to allow access to the slipway.

No salmon preparation is presently carried on but the Fisheries Commission acts as a Regulatory Body for the Foyle Fishery Area.

The 1½ storey front building is four bays wide with double gables, natural slated roofs, pairs of sliding sash windows to each ground floor room and pairs of ditto to 1st floor rooms which are partly contained in the roofspace. Wide wooden barges with semi-circular indents, roughcast rendered walls, painted, with painted sandstone surrounds to windows and doors.

The ice houses below the offices are barrel vaulted and extend in height through three floors i.e. the three floors of the office and storage building beyond. The walls of these are finished similar but not as well kept, windows have sandstone surrounds. Sandstone quoins and corbels support gutters. The walls of the ice house are stiffened with tall robust buttresses with sandstone quoins and battered and shoulders. Three to each side absorbing the thrust from the barrel vaults and the weight of ice. Ice was loaded through shute doors below the facade of the front building.

Sited between Victoria Road and River Foyle and set back sufficiently from the road to allow vehicular access to pass the buildings and gain access to the rear. There is a considerable level difference between the front of the building and the rear, approximately 10 metres. Between the rear of the building and the river, where there is a slipway, ran the permanent way of the former Donegal Railway. When the railway was constructed a tunnel was made under it to connect fishery with the slipway.

Current exterior (2003). The ice houses are now capped with a concrete platform and fence. Side buttresses remain. The floors to the front have been cleared away and openings have been blocked up.

Historical information

Building and ice houses established c1852. Ice was imported from Scotland and Norway though some ice was obtained locally when available. The Building is the property of the Honourable The Irish Society who leased it to the new unique organisation, The Foyle Fisheries Commission which is run by Commissions from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, since 1952. The Commission has a number of activities - patrolling rivers on the Foyle system, monitoring water quality, issuing licences among others. Architect possibly, Stewart Gordon who acted for Irish Society on some projects. Preparation of salmon ceased in 1983.

IHR-1614:10

References:

Foyle Fisheries Commission

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

D. Plan Form
E. Spatial Organisation
G. Innovatory Qualities

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Z. Rarity
V. Authorship
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A good example of twin barrel vaulted ice houses illustrating the simple method of loading and extraction and the basic structural system.