Grand Central Bar

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Victorian end-terrace three-storey red brick commercial building with painted stucco dressings to upper floors and public bar shop-front on ground floor level; occupies a corner site with three-bays to Strand Road elevation and six-bays to Great James Street elevation. Built 1895 (architect unknown). Rectangular on plan with a low parapet wall (original balustraded parapet removed c.2006) to a hipped slate roof behind. Principal elevation faces East onto Strand Road. Upper floors are laid in red brick 'Stretcher bond' with painted rendered dressings; similar in style to neighbouring property No.25 Strand Road (HB01/21/034).

Principal elevation (East) is of red brick laid in 'Stretcher bond' to upper floors with painted rendered dressings; ground floor level has a round-headed arch opening to the right side and a double width 'basket handle' arch window bay to the left side, both containing metal roller shutters (closed at time of survey), openings are divided by fluted pilasters with Corinthian order capitals topped by a corbel bracket with stylised acanthus leaf detail to either side of fascia signage, archways have moulded rendered dressings to arch heads; gilded lettering to fascia above spelling 'F. Mulhern'. Segmental arched heads to upper floor bays having 1 over 2 timber sliding sash windows (replacement windows to first floor level c.1985); upper floor bays are divided by brick piers; painted rendered string course between first and second floors and painted keystone to first floor window bays; rusticated quoins to either end of elevation; moulded frieze to a dentilled cornice above second floor bays; low parapet wall above with rendered painted piers (ironwork missing) and end blocks.

North elevation faces onto Great James Street, walling is of red brick laid in 'Stretcher bond' to upper floors with painted rendered dressings; ground floor level has round-headed arch openings divided by fluted pilasters with Corinthian order capitals topped by a corbel bracket with stylised acanthus leaf detail to either side of fascia signage; archways on ground floor have moulded rendered dressings to arch heads and metal roller shutters below (closed at time of survey); gilded lettering to fascia spelling 'Grand Central Bar'. Segmental arched heads to upper floor bays having 1 over 2 timber sliding sash windows (replacement windows to first floor level c.1985 including tripartite window on North elevation); second floor bays are divided by brick piers; painted rendered string course between first and second floors and painted keystone to first floor window bays; rusticated quoins to either end of elevation; moulded frieze to a dentilled cornice over second floor bays; low parapet wall above with rendered painted piers (ironwork missing) and end blocks.

South side is adjoined to neighbouring property No.25 Strand Road (HB01/21/034).

West elevation gable wall is abutted on ground floor level by adjoining property No.1 Great James Street, blank cement-rendered finish above to upper floors topped by a large red brick chimney stack with stepped brick cornice and five buff clay pots.

Materials:
Roof Natural Slate
RWG uPVC
Walling Brick with stucco dressings
Windows Timber Sliding Sash

Setting:
Located on a corner site on the West side of Strand Road close to the River Foyle which is located to the East. Situated within a terrace row of generously scaled red brick commercial buildings varying in type and style set outside and between both boundaries of the Historic City and Clarendon Street Conservation Areas.

Historical information

No. 27 Strand Road, a three-storey red-brick and rendered building located at the corner of the Strand Road and Great James Street and also known as the Grand Central Bar, was constructed in 1895 along with the adjoining No. 25 (HB01/21/034). The Annual Revisions record that, prior to 1895, the corner site was occupied by a licenced house and tobacconists shop that was operated by a Mr. John Connor. The Ulster Town Directories suggest that Connor occupied the site from at least the 1880s. The licensed premises and tobacconist shop were located on the ground floor whilst the publican resided in the upper floors of the buildings. The original structure on the corner site was valued at £16 in the 1890s (UTD).

The first building on the site was demolished in 1895 when the current structure was erected. No. 27 Strand Road, which possesses three bays on the Strand Road and six bays on Great James Street, was constructed at the same time as the adjoining No. 25 and was undoubtedly by the same architect. The architect of the pair is unknown, however Calley suggests that the ‘subtle and charming’ design of No. 25 Strand Road may have been by the Australian architect Alfred Forman. This is unlikely as the Dictionary of Irish Architects notes Forman did not arrive in Ireland until c. 1897 whilst even Calley admits that the design of nos 25-27 Strand Road are ‘perhaps even more delicate than his designs.’ The completed building continued to be occupied by John Connor and utilised as a public house. Connor leased the property, which was increased in value to £50, from The Honourable The Irish Society. The building was recorded on the Annual Revisions Map (c. 1873-1910) which depicted the building along its current layout (Calley, p. 406; DIA).

The 1901 census described No. 27 Strand Road as a 1st class public house and dwelling that consisted of ten rooms. John Connor continued to operate the public house at the site until his death in 1907 (PRONI Wills). The Annual Revisions note that a Mr. Felix Mulhern took possession of the site in 1922 when its name was changed to the Grand Central Bar (the name of the publican and his new establishment were printed on the sign outside the building at that time). Mulhern resided in the upper floors of the building and continued to occupy the site until at least the 1970s. Under the First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1936-57) the value of the Licenced House was increased to £124. This was further increased to £224 by the end of the Second Revaluation (1956-72).

No. 27 Strand Road was listed in 1985. The NIEA HB Records notes that the building underwent a renovation in the year of its listing that included the installation of new timber sliding sash windows on its first floor and, in 1992, the public house underwent a general restoration. The Derry Journal notes that many of No. 27 Strand Road’s original interior features have survived although in c. 2006 the original balustraded parapet on the roof of the building was removed. In recent times, No. 27 Strand Road continues to be utilised as a public house (NIEA HB Records; Derry Journal)

References

Primary Sources
1. PRONI OS/6/5/20/2 – Second Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1853)
2. PRONI VAL/12/E/157/1/8 – Annual Revisions Town Plan (c. 1873-1910)
3. PRONI VAL/12/B/32/11ZA – Annual Revisions (1892-1897)
4. PRONI VAL/12/B/33/2C-2F – Annual Revisions (1898-1931)
5. PRONI VAL/3/C/6/10 – First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1936-57)
6. PRONI VAL/4/B/5/17 – Second General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1956-72)
7. Ulster Town Directories (1880-1918)
8. Census of Ireland (1901; 1911)
9. PRONI Wills Catalogue (26 Feb 1907)
10. First Survey Record – HB01/21/026 (No Date)
11. NIEA HB Records – HB01/21/026
12. Derry Journal (19 Apr 2013)

Secondary Sources
1. Calley, D., ‘City of Derry: An historical gazetteer to the buildings of Londonderry’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 2013.

Online Resources
1. Dictionary of Irish Architects - http://www.dia.ie

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

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

Evaluation

Victorian end-of-terrace three-storey with attic red brick public house with rendered dressings, situated at the junction of Strand Road and Great James Street, located on the western side of the River Foyle and outside both the historic city walls and Clarendon Street Conservation Area. Built in 1895, it replaced an earlier licensed house and tobacconist's shop. It is similar in style to neighbouring property No. 25 Strand Road (HB01/21/034) which was built at the same time and with which this building has group value. The interior retains some historic character and the exterior retains much historic detailing with its fluted pilasters with Corinthian capitals and largely intact detailing to the shop front including original gilded signage lettering. The corner location and setting are enhanced by this building which has been in continuous use as a public house since it was built. It is a finely detailed building, reflecting the style of its era and it is important for its social history and of interest in the locality.

General comments

The property is in a poor state of repair and at risk of further deterioration.