Probate Office

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Three-bay two-storey red-brick former Probate Office, set in a terrace, built 1861 with recessed segmental arched openings containing sliding sash windows, slated pitched roof with large red-brick chimney and modern extension to rear. Principal elevation facing East onto Bishop Street Within.

Front elevation three bays wide with left bay slightly set back bay. Modern timber door and segmental arched fanlight below keystone brick arch, segmental arched 1/1 timber sliding sash window to central bay with modern door inserted in previous window opening to right. Strongly moulded continuous sill course to first floor with segmental headed 2/2 timber sliding sash windows. Painted cornice on dog-tooth brick course with painted brick parapet wall above. Large single two-stage red-brick chimney off centre to left.

North and South elevations are abutted by nos. 11 and 15 Bishop Street. South gable projects above no. 15, with exposed portion clad in slate.

West elevation not accessed at time of survey.

Setting:
Situated on the West side of Bishop Street Within, in a terraced block of mostly 3-storey buildings, just North of Society Street.

Materials:
Roof : Natural slate
RWG: Cast iron downpipes
Walling : Brick
Windows : Timber Sliding Sash

Historical information

The Probate Office at No. 13 Bishop Street, a two-storey three-bay red-brick building, was constructed in 1861. Prior to 1858 the granting of probate and letters of administration was the responsibility of the Established Church. This was abolished following the Court of Probate and Letters of Administration Act (1857) which transferred probate matters to the civil courts. Between c. 1858 and 1921 the Londonderry Probate Office was responsible for the District Registries of counties Donegal, Londonderry and part of Co. Tyrone (PRONI Wills Catalogue).

The architect of the Londonderry District Probate Office is not known, although it was erected by the Board of Works. Upon the completion of the office in 1861 there was considerable controversy concerning its small design. The Derry Sentinel described the office as ‘a gross outrage upon all architectural propriety’ and such was the aversion to the height and appearance of the building that the issue was raised during a meeting of Londonderry Corporation in April 1861. The corporation determined to ‘communicate with the Board of Works and call their attention to the Building now in course of erection for a Probate Office in Bishop Street, which at its present elevation, instead of being an improvement will be an eye-sore and a disgrace to the city: and to request that measures be taken for having it made at least equal in height with the adjoining houses’ (DIA; Londonderry Corporation Minutes).

The protestations of the Corporation were not heeded and the two-storey red-brick building was erected as it appears today. Photographs of Bishop Street dated from the late-19th century show how the two-storey building interrupted the line of predominantly three-storey buildings between The Diamond and Society Street. The replacement of the adjoining No. 15 Bishop Street (formerly three-storey) with the current two-storey building has lessened this effect. When completed the Annual Revisions valued the Probate Office at £45, recording that the building was occupied by the Board of Inland Revenue. The value of the Probate Office was increased to £68 under the First Revaluation of property in Northern Ireland (1935) and further increased to £86 by the end of the Second Revaluation (1956-72).

In 1970 the UAHS guide for Londonderry described the Probate Office as ‘a small two-storey red brick structure with strong articulation of openings, with curved-headed doorway and windows. There is a brick setback in the window reveals which greatly adds to the design strength of this small building. The function of the building [was] neatly displayed in simple modelled lettering on the façade’ (UAHS guide, p. 19). No. 13 Bishop Street was listed in 1979. The former Probate Office is no longer used for its original purpose; it lay vacant in 2005 and is now utilised as office space. In recent years the two-storey building has also been utilised as a dance studio. Calley, writing in 2013, described the former Probate Office as ‘a quirky, nice building that is presently in good condition following years of neglect and frightful colour schemes.' (Calley, pp 50-51).

References

Primary Sources
1. PRONI OS/6/5/20/2 – Second Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1853)
2. PRONI VAL/12/E/157/1/14 – Annual Revisions Map (c. 1873)
3. PRONI VAL/12/B/32/11A-11ZD – Annual Revisions (1860-1897)
4. PRONI VAL/12/B/33/5a-5c – Annual Revisions (1897-1929)
5. PRONI VAL/3/B/6/10 – First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1935)
6. PRONI VAL/4/B/5/14 – Second General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1956-72)
7. Londonderry Corporation Minutes: Vol. 15 (1861)
8. Derry Sentinel (1861)
9. Ulster Town Directories (1861-1943)
10. First Survey Record – HB01/19/010 (1970)
11. First Survey Image – HB01/19/010 (No Date)
12. NIEA Pink Files – HB01/19/010
13. The Foyle Civic Trust Living City Project: Bishop Street Photographic Record

Secondary Sources
1. ‘Buildings at Risk Northern Ireland: Vol. 7’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1999.
2. Calley, D., ‘City of Derry: An historical gazetteer to the buildings of Londonderry’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 2013.
3. Ferguson, W. S; Rowan, A. J; Tracey, J. J., ‘List of historic buildings, groups of buildings, areas of architectural importance in and near the city of Derry’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1970.
4. Rowan, A. J., ‘The Buildings of Ireland: North West Ulster’ London: Yale University Press, 2003.
5. ‘A design guide for the Historic City Conservation Area Londonderry’ Belfast: Department of the Environment, 2012.

Online Resources
1. Dictionary of Irish Architects - http://www.dia.ie/
2. Natural Stone Database - http://www.stonedatabase.com//stone_types.cfm?stc=45
3. PRONI Wills Catalogue –
http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/search_the_archives/will_calendars/history_of_probate.htm

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
H-. Alterations detracting from building
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
S. Authenticity
T. Historic Importance
X. Local Interest
Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance

Evaluation

Situated on the West side of Bishop Street Within, in a terraced block of mostly 3-storey buildings, a three-bay two-storey late Georgian-style red-brick building with distinctive two-stage red-brick chimney. A similar chimney to the right hand side has been removed. Although the loss interior detailing and plan form detract from the buildings overall integrity, it is well proportioned and the details are consistent with its time and style. It has group value with the Court House (HB01.19.002), which is also on Bishop Street and within the Historic City Conservation Area.