2 BABINGTON TERRACE

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A two-bay three-storey blackstone mid-terrace house, built c.1860 and located to the south side of Main Street in Castlerock. Square plan with three-storey flat-roof return to rear.

Pitched natural slate roof with terracotta ridge tiles; red-brick chimneystack having terracotta pots. Cast-iron ogee rainwater goods on projecting eaves with uPVC fascia; cast-iron square downpipes with decorative fixings. Walling is uncoursed squared blackstone; smooth render to return. Windows are replacement uPVC in painted brick surrounds with projecting painted sills.

North-facing with two openings to each floor; ground floor window opening is aligned left of centre. To left is a round-headed doorcase comprising replacement panelled-and-glazed timber door surmounted by radial timber fanlight with replacement glazing; in painted brick surround. Painted brass bell-push to wall at right.

The east elevation is abutted by adjoining building; HB03/12/002A.

The south elevation was partially concealed. Window to second floor left; abutted at right by the flat-roof extension with window to second floor at gable.

The west elevation is abutted by adjoining building; HB03/12/002C.

Setting:

Situated along Main Street in Castlerock village facing north. Set back from the road with concrete to front, enclosed by original rubblestone garden wall. Yard to rear enclosed by single-storey flat-roof annexe having modern panelled timber door and rectangular window. Tarmacadamed alley to east of terrace leads to rear communal yard. Bounded to railway line to south by high modern metal fencing.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: Uncoursed squared blackstone
Windows: uPVC
RWG: Cast-iron

Historical information

Babington Terrace was built in 1862/3 by developer Richard Babington and is first shown on the third edition OS map dating from 1904. Castlerock, formerly part of the Clothworker’s Company estates, developed along a coastal site near Downhill House following the opening of a railway halt in 1853 (McCutcheon). This, along with active promotion by the railway company, who offered cheap tickets to those who would build or buy villas (Girvan), led to the growth of a bathing resort in an area which had previously been open countryside. (Eccles) From 1860 Frederick William Porter was architect to the Clothworkers’ Company, on whose estates the terrace was situated, and it is possible that he produced designs for the terrace as part of the Company’s development of the area although Sir Henry Hervey Bruce, the local landlord, also took a particular interest in the development of Castlerock and required all new building there to be of a certain quality and size. (www.dia.ie; Eccles)

The current terrace first enters valuation records as unfinished buildings in 1862. Numbers two, three and four were the first to be completed in 1863 with number one appearing shortly afterwards. All the houses were valued at £11 and Richard Babington is initially listed as the occupier but the houses are then taken over by ‘lodgers’ and leased from Sir Henry Hervey Bruce who bought out the Clothworkers Company lands in the 1870s (Eccles).

The first occupier to be noted in the current house was Catherine McIntyre (1885) followed by William Hamilton in 1886. The house continued in the Hamilton family for some years and was the home of Henry S Hamilton at the time of the 1901 census but when the census was taken only his Donegal-born domestic servant was resident. The house was later taken over by the Craigs, James Craig and FA Craig who were both doctors and a succession of tenants followed.

Valuer’s notes of the 1930s list the accommodation as a two receptions and a kitchen on the ground floor, and four bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs. The rent was £4 yearly. Attached plans show a return of 1½ storeys and outbuildings in the yard to the rear.
The terrace was listed in 1977 and in the 1990s renovations were carried out to the chimney, windows, gutters, roof and plasterwork. (HB file)

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/5/2/1 First Edition OS Map 1831
2. PRONI OS/6/5/2/2 Second Edition OS map 1848
3. PRONI OS/6/5/2/3 Third Edition OS Map 1904
4. PRONI OS/6/5/2/4 Fourth Edition OS Map 1923
5. PRONI VAL/12/A/5/4 Valuer’s Notes 1907
6. PRONI VAL/12/B/30/10A-F Annual Revisions (1864-1929)
1. PRONI VAL/3/C/6/2 First General Revaluation 1933-57
2. PRONI VAL/3/D/6/3/H/6 First General Revaluation 1933-57
7. HB file – 03/12/002A-D

Secondary Sources

1. Eccles, J “Downhill, A Scrapbook of People and Place” London: Bath Press, 1996
2. Girvan, W D “Historic Buildings, Groups of Buildings, Areas of Architectural Importance in North Derry including Limavady, Ballykelly, Castlerock, Downhill and Magilligan” Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1975
3. McCutcheon, W.A. “The Industrial Archaeology of Northern Ireland,” London: HMSO, 1980.
4. www.dia.ie

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest
R. Age

Evaluation

A two-bay three-storey blackstone mid-terrace house, built c.1860 and located to the south side of Main Street in Castlerock. Refurbishment has resulted in the loss of historic fabric, including original fenestration, which degrades the character of the building. Despite this, as one of four there is group value, and the terrace, along with the neighbouring Clifton Terrace (HB03/12/002E-G) makes a significant contribution to the historic quality and character of Castlerock. The rubblestone garden wall to front adds to the quality of the setting.