51 Main Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two storey four bay smooth rendered terraced house facing north west onto Main Street. Building forms a pair with the shop next door (no. 49) which is of the same ownership but has more irregularly spaced openings at first floor (three double pane sash windows across the same width of facade). The sash windows of number 51 are divided into four panes by thin vertical astragals. Cills are painted stone. Roof is natural slate with brick chimneys at each end of ridge. Rainwater goods cast iron. At the base of the facade is a small plinth course (300mm high) painted a different colour. It angles out from the building to form a small batter. The panelled entrance door is on the south west end of the facade aligning with the window above. It is two concrete steps above the pavement, has a plain rectangular fanlight, and from its detail appears to be a modern replacement. Part of the jamb is carved out for access to the door lock. In the centre of the facade is a blue plaque stating: ‘Jane Ross 1810-1879 who recorded the folk tune “The Londonderry Air” lived here’.

An open passage to the north east end reveals the gable which is rendered in sand cement. A small window near the front eaves lights the attic. Another small sash lights ground floor near the back of the main building. A two storey return aligns with the gable and contains a more standard size sash. To the rear a single storey kitchen extension sits out from the return. Its gable painted white with a four pane sash in the centre. The gable of the return has two windows off centre on the upper floors and is topped by a chimney. A twelve pane sash can be seen beside the return lighting the first floor stair landing. This window and the two pane sash above are under the roof pitch of a small return from number 49.

Historical information

Occupants claim that the house dates to shortly after the siege, but the architecture belies this. It and its neighbour are shown as one plot on 1831 map and as numbers 18a and b on the 1848 map. The form appears to be as at present though the kitchen extension and a similar return to number 49 were added between the two surveys. Occupants stated that buildings were once linked though not during their ownership (60 years). The building was the residence of four unmarried sisters called Ross during a large part of the 19th century. They were daughters of Mr John Ross of the Lodge (HB02/12/008) who lived in that building until 1823. (Which could be a reasonable late construction date for this house). Jane Ross took down the ‘Londonderry Air’ in 1851 when she heard it being played by an itinerant fiddler in Limavady. Her sister Mary Ross is listed as the occupant of the house in 1858 Griffiths valuation leased from J Ogilby. She is also listed as the occupant of number 70 (HB02/12/045). The present owner bought both 49 and 51 from Rev. Trevlong Ross then resident in England 60 years ago.

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
D Girvan, 'The Buildings of north Derry' UAHS 1975 p12
TH Mullan 'Limavady and the Roe Valley' Limavady Council 1983 p105
Owner, (1997)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
I. Quality and survival of Interior

Criteria for listing: historic interest

V. Authorship
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A simple well maintained pre 1830 town house in the Georgian style with a particularly well maintained and spacious interior containing many joinery items of note. Importance of building enhanced by its contribution to the existing character of Main Street and by its link to an occupant of historic note.