10 North Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A disparate combination of houses, creating a building 6 bays wide, 3 storeys high. Frontage to North Street. A central duality of 2 doors under one segmental arch with central piece between. Moulded pilaster/architrave on each side and across arch with meagre keystone. To the left a shopfront to café with entrance door to inner small porch. Large shop window both elements framed with pilasters and over a deep name fascia with cornice. To the right 2 no. double hung sliding sash 2 pane windows with plain plaster architrave and keystones and a 4 panelled door with rectangular fanlight and surround with a heavy moulded architrave similar to the central arched feature.

At 1st floor to the left 3 no. double hung sliding sash 4 pane windows with sash boxes exposed and these are repeated at 2nd floor with a plain band linking the cills to form stringcourse, under the gutter a corbel course. To the right at 1st floor a large central canted oriel window with 3 no. double hung sliding sash 2 pane windows and under the cill the oriel gathers into a large decorative corbel all in plasterwork. The faceted roof to the oriel slated. On each side of the oriel 1 no. double hung sliding sash 2 unequal pane window with plain wide architrave, head slightly segmented and with keystone. The floor level within at 1st floor is much higher than the adjoining part. This portion of the building reads as 2½ storeys and a large gabled dormer centred over the oriel breaks the eaves line. It has 2 no. double hung sliding sash 2 pane windows. The deep bargeboards are tied with couple complete with kingpost.

Roofs have natural slates, chimney stacks at each end and one in middle. There is a slight difference in ridge line.

The rear of the house has a large back return and windows altered to suit new use. The building is part of terrace between Quay Road and Strandview Road. Its W gable rises high above No. 11 which is 2 storeys.

Historical information

Building probably dates from latter part of 19th cent. and the elaborate oriel window and plaster details much later. The recent conversion to restaurant from mid 1980s. No. 10 originally belonged to Mrs M Bertucelli until 1981. So the plasterwork may have Italian influence. The central archway may originally have been a coach entrance similar to No. 4 and 5. It is likely that earlier buildings of the late 18th cent. were demolished to make way for the present structures.

References

Primary Sources
1. O.S. Map 1832 Antrim sh. 5.
2. O.S. Map 1832 Rev. 1856 Antrim sh. 5.
3. O.S. Memoirs of Ireland, Parishes of Antrim IX, 1830-2, 1835, 1838-9
Ed by Angelique Day, Patrick McWilliams and Noirin Dobson p. 94.

Secondary Sources
1. Ballycastle – Conservation Area Booklet

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

The linking of 2 mid 19th cenury houses and later alterations creates a disjointed architectural façade.Though it is a lively elevation, substanial interior renovations, modifications to the façade and rear returns have reduced its interest.