97 Main Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A two-bay two-storey terraced early nineteenth-century townhouse with integral segmental-headed carriage-arch; predating 1830 and situated to the east side of Main Street in Garvagh town centre. Rectangular plan with modern two-storey flat-roof extension and single-storey flat-roof porch to rear (of no interest).

Pitched artificial slate roof with blue/black angled ridge tiles and rendered chimneystack to gable; two modern skylights to rear pitch. Plastic rainwater goods on moulded eaves course. Walling is painted smooth render on a chamfered plinth with raised quoins; painted roughcast render to rear. Windows are uPVC in moulded architraves with painted sills.

West-facing principal elevation has irregularly arranged openings with segmental-headed carriage arch at ground floor left. First floor has large rectangular window at left and regular window at right. Round-headed entrance to ground floor left of centre, comprising replacement bolection-moulded four-panel timber door with original ornate timber fanlight in a panelled reveal, flanked by fluted panelled pilasters and surmounted by archivolt. To right is an enlarged window insertion fronted by modern metal roller shutter.

North gable has large rectangular window at ground floor; first floor abutted by adjoining building (HB03/02/006).

The east (rear) elevation has window at right over carriage arch entry. Left bay is abutted by the two-storey extension; single-storey porch at right is flush with return and opens to north; window over at first floor.

South gable is abutted by adjoining building.

Setting:

Street-fronted with access to large rear yard via carriage arch entry. Gravelled yard is enclosed by a modern timber fence. Workshop and modern concrete block garage to rear yard.

Roof: Artifical slate
Walling: Smooth render
Windows: uPVC
RWG: Plastic

Historical information

The present building is of Victorian appearance but is shown on the first edition OS map of 1832 and may have earlier fabric at its core. The building is listed in the Townland Valuation of 1828-40 as the residence of John Cochrane valued at £5.16s.

At the time of Griffith’s Valuation of 1856-64 the premises was still occupied by the Cochrane family, now Margaret Cochrane and dimensions are given for the slated house, a single-storey thatched return and a thatched outbuilding. The yard and garden are ‘well-enclosed’. Margaret Cochrane died unmarried in 1866, leaving her wealth including plate, spoons and gold to her sisters nephews and nieces. (Will of Margaret Cochrane, died 21st August 1866)

By 1875 the house had been taken over by Isabella Clinton and then in 1896 by Philip Kerlin who was a magistrate and former national school teacher, listed in the census of 1911 as a widower living with his three daughters. The house passed to Charles O’Connell in 1922 and subsequently to Ernest Hill and Sergeant Kirk (1942). In the 1930s the accommodation was listed as one reception, four bedrooms, a kitchen and scullery. There was an unfinished attic, four bedrooms, a kitchen and scullery, and an earth closet to the rear. The house had electric light but water was provided from a hand pump in the yard. A plan is given of the house, return and lumber room.

The building was listed in 1977. Late twentieth century changes have included the removal of the original sash windows and alterations to the ground floor window opening. (First Survey Photograph 1971)

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/5/18/1 First Edition OS Map 1832
2. PRONI OS/6/5/18/2 Second Edition OS map 1849-53
3. PRONI OS/6/5/18/3 Third Edition OS Map 1904-05
4. PRONI OS/6/5/18/4 Fourth Edition OS Map 1924-33
5. PRONI VAL/1/B/56 Townland Valuation (1828-40)
6. PRONI VAL/2/B/5/6B Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64)
7. PRONI VAL/12/B/30/12A-F Annual Revisions (1864-1929)
8. PRONI VAL/3/C/6/2 First General Revaluation 1933-57
9. PRONI VAL/3/D/6/3/K/4 First General Revaluation 1933-57
10. PRONI Will of Margaret Cochrane, died 21st August 1866
11. HB file – 03/02/005
12. First Survey Photograph 1971

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A two-bay two-storey mid-terrace townhouse with integral elliptical-headed carriage-arch; predating 1830 and situated to the east side of Main Street in Garvagh town centre. Inappropriate alterations and refurbishments have degraded much of the building's original character and its setting to the rear. The building is not of special architectural or historic interest.