189-191 Galgorm Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

An attached group of two mid-nineteenth-century houses located on the north side of Galgorm Road, Ballymena. They comprise a double-pile one-and-a-half storey mid-nineteenth-century house (No.191), with slightly taller one-and-a-half storey linear volume (No.189) with dormer attic set back and extending to east; the latter appears to have been remodelled in the late ninteenth- or early-twenetieth century. There is a later single-storey abutment projecting from the south elevation of the rear volume.

All roofs are pitched natural slate with rendered chimneystacks and plain painted bargeboards; eaves to No.191 are corbelled. Walls are painted roughcast render; there are quoins to No.191. Windows are generally timber-framed sashes, 6/6 and 2/2. Reveals are plain and cills could not be closely inspected.

No.189:
Principal elevation faces south and has three equally spaced 6/6 windows. The west gable is abutted by a single-storey entrance porch, offset to right; it has a flat roof, panelled timber door to south with transom light and four-pane sidelights; the west cheek is lit by a bi-partite timber-framed window with geometric glazing. There are two windows to first floor and one to ground floor. The rear elevation has a window to first floor and glazed timber door. It is extended by the rear elevation of No.191. The east gable has two 2/2 windows to first floor and a single window to ground floor; the rear pile is fully abutted by No.191.

No.191:
Principal elevation faces south and is abutted by a later single-storey porch with 2/2 windows and modern hardwood door contained in a deep projecting entrance porch. There are two wall-head dormers with single and bi-partite sash windows (restricted view; ground floor could not be fully viewed). The west gable is fully abutted and the east gable is extended by a single-storey volume which appears to be part of one of the original structures. The rear elevation has three diminutive sashes grouped to east end (including the single-storey volume); there is a large 2/2 stairwell window and other openings are enlarged mid-twentieth-century casements.

Setting:
The group is set slightly back from the roadside with gardens to front; the boundary wall to No.189 is rubble stone with solider coursing; that to No.191 is reconsituted stone blocks. Gates appear to date from the early twentieth-century. There are two single-storey outbuildings to a large rear yard: to west is a stone barn with roughly coursed rubble stone walls and dressed brick openings; openings are generally rectangular although there is a camber-headed stable door to north end, and a diamond-shaped window near eaves level. An original iron gate is fixed to the gable. The east side of the yard is bounded by a long stable block, also of rubble stone with brick dressed openings, and having modern stable doors.

Roof: Slate
Walling: Render
Windows: Timber
RWG: Not inspected

Historical information

The present pair of houses are first shown as complete on the fourth edition OS map (c.1921; note that the third edition OS map could not be sourced, c.1900-06). The first edition OS map (c.1835) shows some small structures that do not correspond to the present dwellings. A pair of discrete structures is shown on site on the second edition OS map (c.1857), but are enlarged by the later editions, indictating substantial amendment or partial rebuilding. It is possible that No 191 was raised or enlarged. The L-plan outbuildings to the rear date from the mid 19th century and are shown on the second edition map (c.1857), with their footprint having remained unchanged since this time.

The numbering system utilised on the maps accompanying both Griffith’s Valuation and the Annual Revisions is very unclear, however the information suggests that c.1861, the plot comprised a total of nine small houses, each with a rateable value of 10 or 15 shillings. These were owned by a John Raphael, a linen merchant and manufacturer, the son of George Raphael who established the linen business of Raphael & Co. of Galgorm and Ballymena. The Annual Revision records show that by the early 1870s only four of these small houses remained and by 1874 their occupants had been removed. The present house appears to have been constructed at this time, likely incorporating fabric of some of these earlier buildings (likely involving the insertion of an additional storey, as well as extension work), as indicated by the Annual Revisions, which notes that improvements to the house had been made (c.1874). The remodelled house and outbuildings (likely the L-plan structure retained to the rear), were given a rateable value of £16 and noted to be under the ownership of John Young. The house was initially occupied by a James Young until 1877, when a Joseph Close took over, followed by a Robert Close.

The Annual Revisions show that by c.1877 the plot also contained two small dwellings, each valued at £0 10s and occupied by a James Taylor and a Robert Simpson. However, each of these had fallen vacant by 1902. The value of the main house and outbuildings remained unchanged until at least the 1930s and by 1913 ownership was passed to the occupier, Robert Close.

As illustrated by the fourth edition OS map (c.1921), prior to the early 20th century, linear ranges of outbuildings had been constructed to the north-east and north-west of the main house. However only some of these now remain, primarily those to the east and a small proportion to the west.

Although the house has been spilt into two separate dwellings at some point during the 20th century, the footprint has been little altered except for the mid 20th century porch additions to the front of what is now No.189.

References

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/1/37/1 First Edition OS map (1832-33)
2. PRONI OS/6/1/37/2 Second Edition OS map (1857)
3. PRONI OS/6/1/37/4 Fourth Edition OS map (1921)
4. VAL/2/A/1/37A Griffith’s Valuation Map (1859)
5. VAL/2/B/1/64A Griffith’s Valuation (c.1859)
6. VAL/12/D/1/37N Annual Revision Map (1929-35)
7. VAL/12/B/3/14A-F Annual Revisions (1864-1930)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

189 and 191 Galgorm Road is an attractive group of one-and-a-half storey mid-nineteenth century dwellings, prominently located close to the roadside to east of Ballymena. The two dwellings are attached, but are distinctly detailed; No 189 appears to survive in its original form, while No.191 bears the hallmarks of later-nineteenth and early-twentieth century modifications, and has possibly been raised; the single-storey volume at the east may indicate the proportions of the original structures, as the rear east corner retains a vernacular character. A high proportion of historic fabric has been retained externally, and the group is enhanced by a pair of nicely detailed stone outbuildings. This is a prominent complex which has evolved over time and retains evidence of its original form and proportion, and makes a strong contribution to the local character.

General comments

also HB07LQ062