R & J Hillis

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A three-storey, three-bay rendered terraced commercial premises built c.1850 with Art-Nouveau shop-front dating from 1912 and located to the west side of Main Street in Portrush town centre. Square on plan with two-storey and single-storey flat-roof extension (of no interest) to rear.

Pitched natural slate roof with blue/black angled ridge tiles and rendered chimneystacks. Plastic rainwater goods on brick eaves course. Walling is painted smooth render with raised quoins. Windows are 6/3 timber-framed sliding sash in plain reveals to second floor and 1/1 to first floor with contrasting moulded architraves, all with projecting painted sills; ground-floor shop-front has plate glass windows.

The principal elevation faces east and is three windows wide at upper floors with projecting full-width double shop-front at ground-floor. Shop-front has central recessed porch with free-standing glazed display cabinet to centre; flanked by plate glass windows with canted form having carved timber frame with triglyph frieze, transoms, and carved timber jambs on polished granite stall risers. Porch is fully glazed with coloured mosaic tiles to floor reading “15” to either side of cabinet; panelled timber ceiling with circular panel. Original three panel entrance door with ornate Art Nouveau brass pull handle, scrolled cornice and carved timber segmental pediment; surmounted by plain transom light. Plain fascia has consoled gablets with mouldings to either side of painted lettering reading “R & J HILLIS”.

The south elevation is fully abutted by lower adjoining building (HB03/10/023) which is an extension to the shop front.

The west (rear) elevation is abutted by a modern two-storey flat-roof extension faced in corrugated tin; abutted at ground floor by modern flat-roof extension.

The north elevation is abutted by adjoining building.

Setting:
Street-fronted to the west side of Main Street, enclosed yard to rear with rubble stone two-storey outbuilding having red-brick dressings and mainly 1/1 timber-framed sliding sash windows. Timber-sheeted gate leads to rear alley.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: Painted smooth render
Windows: Timber-framed sash
RWG: Plastic

Historical information

Buildings are first shown on the site on the second edition OS map of 1853. However, the mid-nineteenth century dwelling house/shop at the core of this building has undergone some alteration since that time, most notably the addition of an Edwardian shop front in 1912.

The building is listed in Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64) as a house, office and yard valued at £24 and leased by John Williamson to ‘Mrs Gage’ at a rent of £30. Dimensions are given for the house, two returns and a single-storey outbuilding, the quality mark given to the house suggesting that it was not new but in sound order and good repair. The house passed down a line of female occupiers in the ensuing years, Miss Davenport (nd) and then Mrs Thompson (nd), before becoming the premises of John Bamford, draper, confectioner, grocer and stationer in 1883 (1901 street directory). John Bamford had leased the neighbouring premises (number23/5) since the 1870s and now extended into the current shop. The number ‘15’ which appears in the floor tiles of the entrance refers to the previous numbering of the shop from c1890 until recent times. (Valuation records)

John Bamford continued to live in these or the neighbouring premises at the time of the 1901 census where he lists himself as a ‘Tobacco Merchant etc’ living with his wife and three children, the eldest two assisting him in the shop while the youngest is a baker. Four employees also live at the house, two shop assistants, a clerk and a general domestic. His business, which is listed as a ‘drapery shop’ has fourteen rooms, five outbuildings and is designated 1st class, however, this description may apply to the neighbouring building or to both buildings. The premises passed to Thomas Bamford in 1907 but by 1909 had been taken over by Messrs Hill Brothers who continued to run the business as a drapers and stationers. In 1912 Hill Brothers improved the shop by the installation of a new shop front and as a consequence the valuation was raised to £50. Valuer’s notes of the period state that the rent was £80 a year and give a plan of the building showing the single-storey shop front, three-storey house to the rear and single and two-storey returns. Valuation notes of the 1930s record the accommodation as a shop, store, four bedrooms and a WC. The rent was £200 yearly but there was no side entrance to the house and no bathroom.

Just after the war, in 1946 the shop was taken over by R McIlroy & Son whose name was etched in glass over the shop front at the time of the first survey photograph in 1973. The building was listed in 1976 and in 1990 the shopfront was restored (HB file)

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/1/2/1 First Edition OS Map 1831-2
2. PRONI OS/6/1/2/2 Second Edition OS map 1853
3. PRONI OS/6/1/2/3 Third Edition OS Map 1906
4. PRONI OS/6/1/2/4 Fourth Edition OS Map 1921-31
5. PRONI OS/6/1/2/5 Fifth Edition OS Map 1946-50
6. PRONI OS/8/42/1-2 – Town Plans of Portrush (1895-6)
7. PRONI VAL/2/B/1/30B – Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64)
8. PRONI VAL/12/A/1/122 – Valuer’s notes (1912)
9. PRONI VAL/12/B/6/2A-E – Annual Revisions (1859-1895)
10. PRONI VAL/12/B/4/22A-D Annual Revisions (1895-1930)
11. PRONI VAL/3/C/1/30 First General Revaluation 1933-57
12. PRONI VAL/3/D/1/15/A/22 First General Revaluation 1933-57
13. HB File – 03/010/022
14. First Survey Photograph 1973
15. Street Directory 1901

Secondary Sources

1. Girvan, W D “Historic Buildings, Groups of Buildings, Areas of Architectural Importance in North Antrim including the towns of Portrush, Ballymoney and Bushmills” Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1975

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Z. Rarity
W. Northern Ireland/International Interest
R. Age
S. Authenticity
T. Historic Importance

Evaluation

A three-storey, three-bay rendered terraced commercial premises built c.1850 with Art-Nouveau shop-front built 1912 and situated to the west side of Main Street in Portrush town centre. One of the last remaining traditional shop-fronts in the town, reflecting the commercial boom in Portrush at the turn of the century. The building retains much of its original character and high quality architectural detailing. Although the internal layout has largely changed, some elements of a typical Victorian interior survive. The building is also an example of the more domestic scale of buildings that make up the architectural variety and contrasting building styles of Main Street. Of significant local interest, Number 27 makes a significant contribution to the historic character of Portrush.

General comments

Additional listing criteria apply - R-Age, S - Authenticity, T- Historic Importance