6 High Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A 3 bay wide, 2 storey, pedimented building with basement and roof clock tower.

A 3 bay wide pedimented breakfront with surrounding parapeted wall. At ground floor to right an arched gated doorway set in a concave reveal, to left 2, 12 pane double hung sliding sash window, a moulded stringcourse at level of doorway arch springing line, full width of breakfront. Above a continuous plain flat stringcourse at 1st floor and in line with that to No.4 and 8. At 1st floor 3, 15 pane double hung sliding sash taller windows and above a moulded pediment 2 metal downpipes flank the breakfront, draining trunkheads, dated DC 1818, and draining the slated roof through the parapet wall . Steep pitch leaded roof, low pitch behind parapet wall. Centred on the ridge a tallish clock tower, with clock on E side only, over an open belfry with pairs of arched openings on each face with stringcourse circumscribing the tower. Roof a slated pyramid with weathervane cum aerial. Wall smooth rendered plinth and painted. Tower sides ditto. Rear wall, partly obscured by single storey sheds. At ground floor 3 arched 14 pane double hung sliding sash windows, 1st floor 2 , square headed 15 pane double hung sliding sash windows, centre occupied by chimney piece. Wall smooth rendered, unpainted, finished with solid parapet wall, with chimney stack projecting upwards flush with parapet. Recessed blank below stack. 2 downpipes unpainted.

Covered gateway to No. 4 exposes lower part of S gable.

No. 6 forms the centrepiece of an architectural composition which comprises also No.s 4 and 8 and forms a continuous building line and terrace to High Street.

Historical information

No. 6 was designed as Market House as the centrepiece of an architectural composition comprising the Draper’s Arms to the south and the doctor’s house and dispensary to the North (see Booth’s drawing of c 1835, Moneymore and Draperstown p. 58). The Deputation of 1818 had instructed Jesse Gibson, their architect, to draw up plans. Joinery work was carried out in London …… “that they might serve as a model to the workmen of the country”. The upper room of the Market House served as an assembly and 1824 Directory refers to it as a Newsroom. Later it became a courtroom with a retiring room for the magistrate. It still retains the trappings of a courtroom, while the large ground floor is used by several groups, one being the Womens’ Institute. The property is in the ownership of the Drapers’ Charity, which had various agents, One being J Dunlop MP, another Dawson, Pentland and Kay. The building was listed in 1975. The building was completed in 1819 at a cost of £1,000. The early drawings shows a domed cupola with supporting columns.

References

Primary Sources
1. O.S. Map 1832 Londonderry sh. 46.
2. O.S. Map 1832 Rev. 1856 Londonderry sh. 46.
3. O.S. Memoirs of Ireland, Parishes of Co Londonderry XI, 1821, 1833, 1836-7 p. 38, 39
Ed by Angelique Day and Patrick McWilliams Q.U.B.
4. Brett C.E.B. Courthouses and Market Houses UAHS p. 91, 92.
5. Curl J.S. Moneymore and Draperstown UAHS p. 34, 36, 39, 42, 67.
6. Curl J.S. The Londonderry Plantation 1609-1914 p. 118-231.
7. Notes, 1st Survey, E.H.S. Hill Street, Belfast

Secondary Sources
1. Camblin, G. The Town in Ulster p. 98, 99
2. Rowan, A. North West Ulster Buildings of Ireland p. 424
3. Lewis, Topographical Dictionary of Ireland p. 388.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance
V. Authorship
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

An early 19th century building in a chaste Georgian style with an obtuse plan and making the centrepiece of a fine architectural composition adding civility and sedate planning to a small village. It has survived remarkably well adjusting its purpose to the times and playing its part in the social aspirations of the community.