17-19 Main Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Pair of two storey three window wide terraced houses in brick on the south east side of Main Street. Ground floor of 17 owned by different landlord see (HB02/12/011B). Two pane sash windows equally spaced at first floor. Decorative cornice along eaves with an ‘ovolo’ moulding supported by ‘dentils’ and a plain ‘astragal’ moulding all formed in terracotta.

Ground floor of number 19 seems to have been completely demolished and rebuilt. Large window across most of facade to solicitors office flanked by modern brick of a different shade and quality than the original. Recessed entrance to office with second door to stair and flat above. Two double pane sash windows light ground floor of 17 (different owner) with a door to one side which has a blanked out rectangular fanlight. An arch giving access to the rear abuts number 15.

To the rear the building is rendered and painted windows are barred. A two storey return lower than the main building projects from number 19. A flat roofed single storey extension fills most of the rest of the site behind the buildings.

Roof is slate with brick chimneys and PVC rainwater goods.

Historical information

Two buildings indicated as single building on 1830 map, its return aligned with that of number 21. Present opening to rear not built over. Similar arrangement on 1848 map. Griffith Valuation of 1858 gives lessor as J Moffat and occupant Mr Hugh Lane, value £13.10s. 1907 map shows two buildings and passage built over. The detailing of the building is consistent with construction in the high Victorian era. (Hugh Lane also occupied the building next door in 1858 see HB02/12/012).

In the 1970 Historic Buildings survey the facade alterations to number 19 had not occurred, each entrance door was surmounted by a ‘plain rectangular fanlight’ the buildings were considered to form a group with nos. 13 and 15 more effective if ‘15 were brick’.

References:

Primary Sources:
OS Map 'Newtown Limavady' enlarged from 1st Edition Map (1831) PRONI: Val 2D/5/4 & T2933/4/126
OS Map 'Newtown Limavady' (1848 revision with notes of 1858 valuation) PRONI: 058/120/1/1 & T2933/3/140
OS Map ' Town of Limavady' (1895) PRONI:Val 2D/5/4 & 293/4/261
OS Map ' Town of Limavady' (1907) PRONI:058/120/2/3

Secondary Sources
TH Mullan 'Limavady and the Roe Valley' Limavady Council 1983

Owner,(1997)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Late Victorian pair of terraced houses which once fitted well into the more austere Georgian surroundings of Main Street. Inappropriate renovations to the ground floor facades have seriously diminished the architectural qualities of the buildings since original listing.