Archway

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Large stucco archway at the entrance to Victoria Car park facing Strand Road (west). Large aedicule of the Corinthian order with central square-headed archway flanked by segmental headed pedestrian openings. Large central triangular pediment above with salient cornice supported by plain pilasters and "VICTORIA MARKET" in raised plaster. Plaster coping and balusters either side. Painted Derry City coat of arms within pediment. North and south elevations abutted by commercial terrace buildings. East elevation plain stucco painted.

Historical information

The pedimented archway located between Nos 8 and 10 Strand Road, is the last vestige of Victoria Market which was originally established in 1852. The Ordnance Survey Memoirs (1837) record that prior to the 1850s, all the principal markets were located within, or in the immediate vicinity of, the city walls. The construction of new markets outside of the walls coincided with the northern expansion of the city in the early-Victorian period. John Hume notes that during the period 1825-1850 ‘reconstruction of the city’s buildings [within the city walls] took place alongside the development for the first time of housing outside the walls at Bogside and Edenballymore’ facilitated by a period of growth in the economy and population of the city (OSM, p. 126; Hume, p. 147).

The first edition Ordnance Survey map (1830) records that, prior to the construction of Victoria Market, the current site was occupied by the ‘King’s Stores,’ a yard for the provision of arms and gunpowder for the local barracks on the western side of the city. The yard continued to be utilised as a storage facility following the construction of Ebrington’s Barracks in the 1840s. The move across the river effectively made the site redundant but the King’s Stores (renamed the Queen’s Stores following the crowing of Queen Victoria in 1837) remained in use up until the 1850s. The Builder records that Gordon Stewart (d. 1860), the County Surveyor, constructed additional market accomodation for the city on the site of the former Queen’s Stores in 1852; the contemporary second edition Ordnance Survey map (1853) notes that this market was named ‘Victoria Market’ at that time. As an open air market space, the map did not depict any buildings on the current site of the arch, but it is unlikely that the arch was constructed at this time. Griffith’s Valuation set the total rateable value of the market at £200 in 1856.

The arch was constructed between 1873 and 1904. The entrance arch was not depicted on the detailed c. 1873 town plan of Londonderry, but it had certainly been erected by 1904 when the adjoining commercial buildings were constructed around it. The Ulster Town Directories note that Victoria Market was originally utilised as the city’s grain market ‘for the sale of oats, wheat, barley etc’ and was open daily. The market was also utilised for large events, for example in 1875 the Royal Agricultural Society of Ireland held its annual show in Victoria Market (UTD; Derry Corporation Book).

Victoria Market continued in usage into the 1930s. The First Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland increased the value of the market to £250 in 1935, but by the Second Revaluation (1956-72) the site was no longer utilised as a market space. The entrance arch, which bears Derry’s Coat of Arms and motto, was listed in 1985; the NIEA HB Records note that the arch was restored shortly after being listed. The arch remains at the entrance to the site of its former market which is currently used as a public car parking space (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/157/1/11 – Annual Revisions Town Plan (c. 1873)
4. PRONI VAL/2/B/5/16G – Griffith’s Valuation (1856)
5. PRONI VAL/3/B/6/4 – 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. Ordnance Survey Memoir of Parish of Templemore (1837)
8. Builder (11 Dec 1852)
9. Derry Corporation Minutes Book (1875)
10. Ulster Town Directories (1852-1918)
11. First Survey Record – HB01/21/028 (No Date)
12. First Survey Image – HB01/21/028 (No Date)
13. NIEA HB Records – HB01/21/028

Secondary Sources
1. Calley, D., ‘City of Derry: An historical gazetteer to the buildings of Londonderry’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 2013.
2. 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.
3. Rowan, A. J., ‘The Buildings of Ireland: North West Ulster’ London: Yale University Press, 2003.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

A simple stucco archway with large aedicule of the Corinthian order facing west onto Strand Road now providing access to Victoria Car Park. An important feature along the streetfront with intact coat of arms. Of significant social and civic value as the last vestige of Victoria Market which was originally established in 1852, and also, prior to that, as the site of the 'King's Stores', a yard for the storage of arms and gunpowder for the Ebrington Barracks (renamed Queen's Stores in Queen Victoria's reign).