83 Main Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

(Recorded 1997 prior to demolition in late 1999)
Smaller of two heavily modelled painted plaster late Victorian terraced houses which face north west onto Main Street at its north eastern end. Two storey with a steeply sloping slate roof and large modelled brick chimneys (seven pots) on each end of the ridge. Building three windows wide (about two thirds of the width of its neighbour to south west number 81 (HB02/12/020A). Entrance door with semi-circular plain fanlight and key stone is to the south west end of the facade. It is flanked by two pilasters which rise to break the frieze of the continuous entablature above. A similar pilaster is located at the north east end. The plinth of the pilasters align with a string course joining the cills of the ground floor windows. These windows have filleted heads and architraves and are two pane sashes. The plaster walls behind are coursed. On first floor the windows have rectangular heads, architraves and keystones. Their cills form a string course. The eaves are supported by a cornice. The north east end has an applied pilaster.

The plasterwork at the front is in need of maintenance.

To the rear the building is rendered sand and cement. A two storey pitched return projects out. To the north east a two storey bay window with sand cement cornice detail projects. The two storey stables are located to the rear of the site (in brick) with strap wrought iron gate.

Historical information

‘In 1883 Henry Connell purchased from Sarah Jackson six thatched houses on the south side of Main Street with four acres of ground in the rear along Methodist Lane. All were demolished and two large and commodious houses were erected adjoining the fine business premises of himself and his brother John. Architect W J Given, Contractor J S Brolly’ (Reverend Mullan). William Bingham an Edwardian who lived in the house is said to haunt it. Along with his grand daughter he walks from the front room to the back and up the stairs. Tweedy Acheson moved into the adjoining business premises next door in 1924. They bought this house in the late 1970s and used it as a ladies fashion shop until 1998. Plans to convert the building into offices and a coffee shop have recently been shelved due to a large business rate rise. The plaster in the upper room is reputed to have been the work of a travelling Italian plaster worker.
The building was demolished in late 1999 to make way for a supermarket.
References:
Primary Sources:
OS Map 'Newtown Limavady' enlarged from 1st Edition Map (1831) PRONI: Val 2D/5/4 & T2933/4/126
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 p69
Coleraine Constitution 25/10/1884
Owner (1997)
Rev P Donnelly, The Great Church of the Roe

**File Note:- Listing Abandoned - property demolished*

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A high Victorian town house with high quality interior fittings. Exterior decoration was perhaps too ornate for late twentieth century taste but its form was in sympathy with the rest of Main Street. It also formed an interesting group with its neighbour number 81.

Interior fittings were of note and included entrance screen, shutters to windows , stained glass in bay window, staircase, bathroom fittings, fireplaces and cornice plasterwork.

Building was demolished in late 1999.