1 Waterside

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A three-storey-with-basement semi-detached Georgian style former hotel building, constructed to the designs of Samuel Angell, c.1845. Rectangular on plan, sited on the western side of Coleraine, overlooking the River Bann. Abutted to the west by the adjoining terrace (HB03/16/001B-J) and having a substantial flat-roofed 20th century extension to the north (of no interest).

Shallow hipped slate roof with raised flat-top and lead covered hip-ridges; rendered chimney to north west; half-round cast-iron rainwater goods, mounted on plain timber fascia and overhanging boxed eaves over a moulded and rendered eaves course. Walling is ruled-and-lined rendered/stuccoed, roughcast render to rear and west; corners have raised quoins with banded rustication; projecting plinth extending across basement level. Square-headed window and door openings throughout, generally having plain raised architraves and projecting sills (all rendered); original 6/6 timber sliding sash windows without horns (unless otherwise stated). Moulded and rendered horizontal panels extend above first floor openings on south and east elevations; the upper reading ‘CLOTHWORKERS BUILDING’.

Principal elevation faces south and comprises four equally spaced windows across the first and second floors; the upper windows having no architraves and a continuous sill course to the first floor. Central square-headed doorway accessed via rendered steps with an expansive window opening to each side (boarded over); replacement modern door with metal grilles and boarded up transom light over. Blank rendered and moulded horizontal fascia extends above.

West elevation is abutted on the ground floor by a flat-roofed and a pitched extension which extends north, adjoining to a further north extension (of no interest). Four irregular windows to the upper floors (including a diminutive to right). Right-side abutted by three-storey flat roof link-block connecting main building to neighbouring terrace (HB03/16/001B). Right cheek is roughcast; left is stuccoed ruled-and-lined rendered having a two-panelled timber door with a similar panelled piece to left; flat masonry canopy over.

North (rear) elevation is abutted by two expansive extensions (pitched roof to right and brick with a flat-roof to the left side) at basement and ground level. Second and first floors contains two windows to the right; a flat roof projection left of centre having a casement window within a former fire escape door and exterior metal stairs; window to far-right side is blocked up.

East elevation contains six-unequally spaced, vertically aligned windows on each floor (those on upper floor are without architraves); banded rustication across ground floor level. Three timber casement windows to right-side at plain rendered basement level, having blank lower portions.

Setting
Located in an urban/residential
setting, the main elevation directly fronts one of the main thoroughfares into Coleraine town centre, via the ‘Old Bridge’. The eastern elevation directly overlooks the River Bann and is a focal point of the vista from the west side of the Diamond. The building forms the termination of a terrace extending to the west (HB03/16/001B-J), with a similar terrace situated on the opposite side of the street, to the south (HB03/16/001K-T). The substantial returns abutting to the north are generally two-storey, flat-roofed with grey brick walls pierced by a number of timber and metal frame windows (of no interest).

Roof Slate
RWG Cast-iron
Walling Ruled-and-lined rendered
Windows Timber sash

Historical information

The former Clothworkers’ Arms Hotel was constructed between 1844-46, to the designs of Samuel Angell. First shown on the second edition OS map (1849-50), the building replaced the previous Davock’s hotel building (first edition OS map 1830) and constituted the first component in the complete redevelopment of the Waterside area during the mid 19th century.

Under ownership of the Worshipful Company of Clothworkers, the hotel and associated offices were first valued at £75 in Griffith’s valuation (1856), with the proprietor listed as a John McKillips (?). Ownership transferred to Sir Hervey Bruce in 1866 and in 1872 the proprietor was Emmerson. T. Weldon, followed by a James Lough who remained occupier of the property until 1917 (General Revisions 1866-1931). The initial value of £75 did not significantly change until the General Revisions (1885-92) when an additional £20 was added as the hotel now occupied a large part of the adjoining terrace (HB03/16/001B), except for two rooms on an upper floor which were utilised as a rent office by Sir Hervey Bruce. Field evidence shows the upper floor of No.3 contains a blocked door which previously led to the small link block connecting the two buildings.

According to the 1911 Census Records, the hotel, which was the residence of the Lough family and eight hotel servants, comprised thirty rooms and thirteen out-offices, including four stables, coach-houses and stores, located to the rear. Vacant for two years in the early 20th century, the building complex became utilised as a motor works and garage in 1919 (General Revisions 1913-31) with the value subsequently decreasing to £58. In addition, Sir Hervey Bruce also had an office located on the first floor which was valued at £6.

Contemporary maps show the main building out-line has changed little since construction c.1846, except for some enlargement and possible replacement of the outbuildings to the rear. The main building became utilised as a house during the mid 20th century but the property is now vacant.

The current building replaced an earlier hotel, owned by Thomas Davock, which formed part of a previous street, similar in layout to the current terraces (HB03/16/001B-T). This area of Killowen Parish, now known as Waterside, was originally a suburb of Coleraine town and was under the ownership of the Worshipful Company of Clothworkers, one of the London Merchant Companies charged with developing and ‘planting’ the county of Londonderry during the early 17th century. The Company chose to lease out these lands, often to absentee landlords which resulted in a general decline of the estate and a lack of house construction due to the uncertainty of tenures. The Company regained direct control of their proportion in 1840 when the lease had expired and a subsequent era of improvement followed which included substantial expenditure on buildings, infrastructure and education (Mullin; Rowan).

A new bridge of increased height, was built c.1844, to replace a previous timber bridge c.1735 and stabilising works were carried out to the western embankment of the river (OS Memoirs). The street-level on the Killowen side was raised c.1843 to correspond with that of the new bridge. Reflecting the spirit of the times, it was deemed more appropriate to demolish and rebuild the entire area of Waterside, in order to create a more dignified entry into the Company’s estate. The erection of the new hotel c.1844-46, marked the first stage in this extensive redevelopment. Designed by the Company’s surveyor in Ulster, Samuel Angell, the contract was completed by John Lynn at a cost of £1,550, with an additional two stables constructed to the rear, amounting to £250. Completion of the interior was managed by Kilpatrick, a local architect (Curl; Mullin).

In the following decade, Angell oversaw the phased design and erection of the neighbouring terraces on Waterside, which was funded by the Clothworkers’ Company and amounted approximately £4,000. Although the designs were largely generated by other architects, each was carefully regulated to conform to the symmetrical and unadorned precedent established by the hotel building which dominated the western approach from Coleraine town (Curl).

References

1. PRONI OS/6/1/11/1 – First Edition Ordnance Survey map (1830)
2. PRONI OS/6/5/7/2 – Second Edition Ordnance Survey map (1849-50)
3. PRONI OS/9/24/1/8 – Town Plan map (1882)
4. PRONI OS/6/1/11/3 – Third Edition Ordnance Survey map (1904)
5. PRONI OS/6/1/11/4 – Fourth Edition Ordnance Survey map (1921)
6. PRONI OS/10/5/7/7/3– Third Edition Ordnance Survey 25-Inch map (1949)
7. PRONI OS/11/13/13/1 – First Edition Ordnance Survey 25-Inch Irish Grid map (1967-8)
8. PRONI VAL/1/B/57 – Townland Valuations (1830s)
9. PRONI VAL/2/B/5/3F – Griffith’s Valuation (1856)
10. PRONI VAL/12/B/30/9A- General Revisions (1859-65)
11. PRONI VAL/12/B/30/9B- General Revisions (1866-74)
12. PRONI VAL/12/B/30/9C- General Revisions (1875-84)
13. PRONI VAL/12/B/30/9E- General Revisions (1885-92)
14. PRONI VAL/12/B/30/9G- General Revisions (1893-99)
15. PRONI VAL/12/B/30/9M- General Revisions (1900-12)
16. PRONI VAL/12/B/30/9P- General Revisions (1913-31)
17. PRONI VAL/3/B/6/3 – First General Revaluations (1935)
18. Census Records (1901 & 1911)

Secondary Sources

1. Lewis, Samuel ‘A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland’ S. Lewis & Co, London (1837)
2. Day, Angélique and McWilliams, Patrick (eds) ‘Ordnance Survey Memoirs; The Parishes of Co. Londonderry (Vol. 33) XII 1829-30, 1832, 1834-6, Coleraine & Mouth of the Bann’ Institute of Irish Studies, Queen’s University, Belfast (1993)
3. Mullin, Rev. T.H. ‘Coleraine in Modern Times’ Century Services Ltd. Belfast (1977)
4. Rowan, Alistair ‘The Buildings of Ireland: North West Ulster’ Yale University Press, London (1979)
5. Curl, James. S. ‘The Londonderry Plantation 1609-1914’ Phillimore & Co, Chichester (1986)
6. Girvan, W.D. ‘List of Historic Buildings, Groups of Buildings & Areas of Architectural Importance in Coleraine & Portstewart’ Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, Belfast, (1973)
7. www.dia.ie

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance
V. Authorship
X. Local Interest
R. Age
S. Authenticity
T. Historic Importance
U. Historic Associations

Evaluation

A plainly detailed three-storey-with basement, ruled-and-lined rendered former Clothworkers’ Hotel building, built c.1845 to the original designs of Samuel Angell and completed by John Lynn. Despite modern additions to the rear the building retains its original character both externally and internally. Commanding a prominent corner site on the western bank of the River Bann, the building was designed to act as precedent in terms of style and grandeur for the redevelopment of the Waterside area which followed during the mid 19th century. The scale and eminence are reflective of the building's significance within the local area, as the main point of entry from the east side of Coleraine to the west. Combined with the adjoining terrace (HB03/16/001B-J), these buildings constitute one of the few coherent street facades which survive within the town.

General comments

Additional listing criteria apply - R - Age, S - Authenticity, T- Historic Importance, U- Historic Associations.
Previously recorded as HB03/16/001