4 BABINGTON TERRACE

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A two-bay three-storey blackstone end-terrace house, built c.1860 and located to the south side of Main Street in Castlerock. Square plan with two-storey return abutted at right angles by a modern two-storey annexe.

Pitched natural slate roof with blue/black angled ridge tiles; replacement red-brick chimneystack having terracotta pots. Cast-iron ogee rainwater goods on projecting eaves with uPVC fascia. Walling is uncoursed squared blackstone; ruled-and-lined render to west gable; roughcast render to return. Windows are replacement 1/1 timber sash with horns in painted smooth render 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 raised-and-fielded four-panel timber door surmounted by radial timber fanlight, in painted smooth rendered blocked surround with voussoir arch-head.

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

The south elevation has window to upper floors at left and window to landing at right. Modern uPVC door with large sidelight to ground floor left. Abutted at right by the two-storey return which has been converted to act as an entrance for the modern two-storey annexe at a right angle to south.

The west gable is blank.

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. Small yard to rear enclosed by rubblestone and brick wall with brick gate piers to west supporting a modern timber gate. Entrance to modern annexe at west laid in brick pavior. Gravel alley to west 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: Replacement timber sash
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 James Gilkie in 1882 and the Gilkie family remained resident for some years. In 1901 Mary Gilkey who lived on the ‘interest of money’ lived with her two nieces, one of whom worked as a bookkeeper. The two nieces continued in the house at the time of the 1911 census when Sarah Jane describes her profession as ‘commercial clerk’ while her sister continues to keep house. The return of the house was extended in 1883 but this was not noticed until 1907 when the valuation was raised to £15 as a result. The Gilkey sisters appear to have remained at the house until the 1950s when it was taken over by Robert Love.

Valuer’s notes of the 1930s list the accommodation as a two receptions, a kitchen and scullery on the ground floor, three bedrooms, a maid’s room, a bathroom and WC on the first floor and one bedroom and one other room on the second floor. Attached plans show a return of 1¾ storeys and outbuildings in the yard to the rear.

The terrace was listed in 1977 and in the 1980s renovations were carried out to the roof and windows. In 2003 the rear was converted into a separate dwelling. (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
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A two-bay three-storey blackstone end-terrace house, built c.1860 and located to the south side of Main Street in Castlerock. Refurbishment over the years has compromised the original character and a modern annexe inserted to rear of the property degrades the building's character to the rear. 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.