2 Crawford Square

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

One of a pair of two-bay three-storey over basement rendered townhouses with rendered dressings and rustication to ground floor. Built in1865 to designs by John Guy Ferguson. Rectangular on plan with a two-storey rear return built at half-landing height and interlocking adjoining No.1A Academy Road (HB01/22/037C) to the rear, southwest. Principal elevation faces northeast onto Crawford Square set behind low rendered boundary wall. Together with No.1 Crawford Square (HB01/22/037A), built as a pair detached from the remaining houses along the terrace row, lining the southwest side of Crawford Square.

Hipped natural slate roof with terracotta clay ridge tiles continuous with No.1 Crawford Square; pedimented bay to the NW side of elevation; large rendered two-stage chimney stack with seven buff clay pots to the main roof rising from NW elevation. Timber fascia and decorative paired modillions to deep timber soffit boards at eaves. Pitched natural slate roof to rear return. Cast-iron rainwater goods throughout (where seen).

Principal elevation is of rendered painted finish with rustication on ground floor set on raised plinth and rendered dressings throughout (some painted in contrasting colour); continuous moulded string-course above ground and first floor windows span the width of both elevations to the front; projecting right side bay has an open pedimented gable-end with vermiculated corner quoins from first floor level and a two-storey canted bay window with a further string course and panelled frieze above ground and first floor bay windows; the latter also has a roundel and plain low parapet. Windows to the middle of canted bay are 2/2 timber sliding sashes, with 1/1 timber sliding sashes to the sides; round arched window with hood mould and small vermiculated keystone having a uPVC casement window on second floor level above canted bay; sill-course to ground and first floor windows. To left side, segmental arched opening with moulded surround to entrance on ground floor level with raised-and-fielded timber panelled door, flanked by large columns of Corinthian order supporting moulded cornice and plain overlight. Narrow round-arched window on first floor level aligned directly over door with a moulded rendered architrave and segmental-arched window on second floor level above, both having shoulder-course and 1/1 timber sliding sash windows.

Southeast elevation of main building is adjoined to neighbouring property No.1 Crawford Square (HB01.22.037A).

Northwest elevation is smooth rendered, ruled and lined (painted) set on a low plinth; moulded string-course between each floor level and paired modillions below eaves continues from the front elevation, painted in contrasting colour; as does vermiculated quoins. Two-stage large rendered chimneystack centred on elevation rising from above eaves level to the main roof. Northwest elevation of rear return is of rendered painted finish; pitched natural slate roof has terracotta clay ridge tiles and a newly reconstructed block work chimney stack having five terracotta clay pots rising from the southwest gable end. 2/2 timber sliding sash window remains to first floor of return, otherwise windows are a mix of timber and uPVC casements.

Southwest elevation to the rear is of three-storeys smooth-rendered painted finish with uPVC casement windows made to resemble 2/2 timber sliding sashes (where seen) and a wall head dormer having a round arched uPVC casement windows to match. Rear elevation is abutted by two-storey gabled rear return (shared with No. 1 Crawford Sq, HB01.22.037A) built off half-landing level, and interlocked in section with adjoining property No.1A Academy Road (HB01.22.037C) to the rear.

Materials:
Roof Natural Slate
RWG Cast-iron & uPVC
Walling Render, painted
Windows Timber Sliding Sash (NE) & uPVC Casement (NE dormer & SW)

Setting:
Located off the Northland Road to the southwest side of Crawford Square and built as a semi-detached pair with No1, adjacent to a terrace row of generously scaled townhouses of similar type (HB01.22.003 D & F-S inclusive), within the Clarendon Street Conservation Area. Set back from pavement behind hedging on low rendered walls, painted; paired entrances are approached by a broad flight of steps.

Historical information

Crawford Square, a mid-Victorian square located off the Northland Road on a hill overlooking the River Foyle, was originally laid out in 1861. The Dublin Builder records that the square was named after Samuel Law Crawford, a local solicitor who owned the land. Crawford Square was laid out by Fitzgibbon Louch (1826-1911), a civil engineer and architect, during his early career. Louch established an independent practise in Londonderry in 1859, was active in the city until the late-1860s and was responsible for the entrance to the City Cemetery and the design of the Magazine Gate entrance to the city walls (Dublin Builder, p. 505; DIA). It is important to note, however, that whilst Louch's design for the City Cemetery was selected at competition in 1859, his scheme does not appear to have been realised and the entrance screen, Superintendant's House and Chapel that exist today (HB01.16.001A&B) were designed by Robert Collins and built in 1866.

Following the establishment of the Georgian-style terraces along Great James Street, Queen Street and Clarendon Street in the 1830s-1860s, the city continued its northern expansion with the construction of a number of additional terraces designed for Londonderry’s professional classes. According to Mullin, the Northland Road was still a country road leading from the city to Donegal when the first tenders for the erection of new dwellings on Crawford Square were invited in the 1860s (Mullin, p. 119).

Calley states that Crawford Square, ‘along with Templemore and Victoria Parks, can be seen as the city’s delayed response to Dublin’s garden squares [which] created, near to the city centre, a green oasis for its wealthy residents. It has an enclosed central garden bounded on three sides by the square.’ Nos 1-2 Crawford Square were the first houses to be constructed (see HB01/22/003A-B). The pair was erected in 1865 for Samuel Knox, a building contractor, whilst the majority of the adjoining terrace were built for John McAdoo, a local seed merchant and landowner (UTD; Calley, p. 128; 420). No.22-23 Crawford Square, offset to the northwest of the formal garden and very similar to No.1&2, were built in 1862, although the name of the architect who designed this earlier terrace is unknown.

The Dublin Builder records that nos 1-2 Crawford Square, a pair of three-storey two-bay Italianate dwellings, were constructed in 1865 to a design by John Guy Ferguson. One of Londonderry’s most prominent architects, Ferguson (d. 1901) was a partner in the practice of Frazer, Ferguson & Frazer in 1861 and was appointed architect to the Church of Ireland diocese of Derry and Raphoe in 1868. Best known for his design of St. Augustine’s Church (HB01/19/012), the Apprentice Boy’s Memorial Hall (HB01/19/011) and the expansion of St. Columb’s Cathedral (HB01/19/001), Ferguson carried out only a small number of domestic contracts in the city. The Dictionary of Irish Architects records that nos 1-2 Crawford Square are the earliest known houses to be designed by Ferguson (DIA; Dublin Builder, p. 249).

Upon its completion the total rateable value of No. 2 Crawford Square was set at £31 by the Annual Revisions. The majority of the occupants of the square were of the city’s professional and merchant classes. In 1911 No. 2 Crawford Square was occupied by Elizabeth MacDonald, a professional musician and piano dealer. The 1911 Census Building Return described No. 2 Crawford Square as a 1st class dwelling that consisted of 12 rooms and possessed a coach house as its sole outbuilding. Nos 1-2 Crawford Square continued to be owned by the Knox family until at least the 1970s. By the end of the Second Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1956-72) the total rateable value of the house stood at £34.

In 1970 the UAHS guide for Londonderry described nos 1-19 Crawford Square as ‘a fine terrace of three-storey rendered buildings on a sloping surface overlooking a tree-lined grassy square. The houses are well modelled, with two-storey height bay windows’ (UAHS guide, p. 50). In 1978 Crawford Square was included in the Clarendon Street Conservation Area ‘being an area of special architectural or historic interest, the character of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance’ (Londonderry Clarendon Street Conservation Area Booklet). Nos 1 23 Crawford Square were subsequently listed in 1979. The NIEA HB Records note that the façade of No. 2 Crawford Square was replastered in 1984. The building underwent a renovation in 2009 which included the reslating of the roof, the installation of new rear windows and the replacement of the original chimney pots (NIEA HB Records).

References

Primary Sources
1. PRONI OS/6/5/20/2 – Second Edition Ordnanec Survey Map (1853)
2. PRONI VAL/12/E/157/1/7 – Annual Revisions Town Plan c. 1873
3. PRONI VAL/12/B/32/11A-ZD – Annual Revisions (1860-1897)
4. PRONI VAL/12/B/33/2A-2F – Annual Revisions (1898-1931)
5. PRONI VAL/3/C/6/10 – First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1926-57)
6. PRONI VAL/4/B/5/13 – Second General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1956-72)
7. Dublin Builder (1 May 1861; 15 Oct 1865)
8. Irish Builder (1 Apr; 15 Sept 1871)
9. Census of Ireland (1901; 1911)
10. Ulster Town Directories (1843-1918)
11. First Survey Record – HB01/22/003 (1970)
12. First Survey Image – HB01/22/003 (No Date)
13. NIEA HB Records – HB01/22/003B

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. Mullin, T. H., Ulster’s Historic City: Derry – Londonderry’ Coleraine: Coleriane Bookshop, 1986.
4. ‘Londonderry Clarendon Street Conservation Area Booklet’ Department of the Environment, 1978.
5. ‘Design Guide for Clarendon Street Conservation Area’ Department of the Environment, 2012.

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

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

Victorian two-bay three-storey over basement rendered semi-detached townhouse, built in 1865 and located to the northwest of the city within a tree-lined garden square set out at an angle to Northland Road by civil engineer and architect, Fitzgibbon Louch. One of a pair, it shares group value with the adjoining No.1 Crawford Square (HB01.22.037A); the two are the earliest known houses designed by J. G. Ferguson. The open pedimented gable and deep over hanging eaves suggest an Italianate influence which bears a strong resemblance to No.22 & 23 Crawford Square (HB01.22.004C&D), located diagonally opposite and built in 1862, although it cannot be confirmed with certainty that Ferguson designed the earlier buildings.
Bound by hedging on low rendered walling, the paired modillions, vermiculated quoins and panelled frieze return to the northwest elevation, where a tall chimneystack rises from the middle. The exterior retains much of its character, style and proportions and is matched by a fine interior, with plan form and detailing largely intact, despite some uPVC windows and loss of character where it interlocks with No.1A Academy Road (HB01.22.037C) at the rear. Slightly more ornate, No.1 & 2 form a bookend to a stepped row of similar three-storey houses with canted bays and well-ordered fenestration, (HB01.22.003D & F-S inclusive) to form a unique and distinctive setting within the Clarendon Street Conservation Area.