16/18 High Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A 4 bay wide 2 storey building, with shopfront, gateway, mid terrace house.

Elevation to High Street from S end, a single segmental headed 4 pane double hung sliding sash window, a handsome 4 panelled moulded framed house entrance door with semi-circular arched fanlight. Pilaster each side of door with nect scroll and cornice over. The moulded panels of door have blocking pieces at each corner, characteristic of the next 2 house doors. Door frame deep set reveal, good ironmongery. Shopfront has recessed door, return display widow and a large display window with small name fascia over. A metal gate closes off recessed door. A segmental headed gateway with timber sheeted door. At 1st floor 4 no. 4 pane double hung sliding sash windows unevenly spaced, painted cills. Wall smooth rendered and painted quoins one side, with bold plinth, frieze band under corbel course with ½ round metal gutter, natural slated roof, brick moulded chimney stack on ridge between gateway and shopfront.

The building is a mid-terrace house observing the general building line.

The rear (W) elevation is finished in plain cement render. To far left on the ground floor is the large carriage arch. To right of this is a timber-sheeted door with rectangular fanlight. To right again there is a projecting full-height bay the pitch of whose roof merges with the main roof. To the ground floor of the projection there is a small window with replacement top-hung frame to left, and a timber-sheeted door to right. To the right of the projection on the ground floor is a two over two timber sash window. To far left on the first floor is a six over six timber sash window. To right of this is a window with two pane replacement top hung frame, with a similar one to far right. To the upper level of the projection there is a small window with replacement frame to left with a much larger elliptical-headed window to right with two over two timber sash frame.

To the rear (W) of the building of the yard is a large two storey outbuilding, part of a long terrace of outbuildings to the rear of this property and its neighbours. The building has whitewashed rubble stone walls, a slated gabled roof, and various door and window openings to various size (on the E façade at least). One of the pedestrian doorways leads into a small room, which the present occupant states was originally a cell, (relating to the main building which the occupant states was originally a Constabulary barracks).

Historical information

The terrace of which No. 18/20 High Street is part was probably rebuilt c 1870 to designs of W.J. Booth, though he was no longer company architect having retired in 1855 and died 1871, had prepared designs much earlier. The terrace replaced an early one designed by Jesse Gibson (see ill. 35 in Curl J.S. Moneymore and Draperstown UAHS p. 58, 59). The houses built by George Tipping. House was probably sold by the company in c 1891 under Lord Ashbourne’s Act (The Purchase of Land (Ireland) Act 1885) (100% loan limit). The property was listed in 1975 and repairs were carried out in 1992.

The current occupant (2004) states that this building originally served as the local Constabulary barracks, and that there was a cell in the outbuilding to the rear.

References

Primary Sources
1. O.S. Map 1832 Londonderry sh. 46.
2. O.S. Map 1832 Rev. Londonderry sh. 46.
3. Curl J.S. Moneymore and Draperstown UAHS p. 58, 59
4. Curl J.S. The Londonderry Plantation 1609-1914 p. 203, 221, 226, 230
5. Notes, 1st Survey, E.H.S. Hill Street, Belfast

Secondary Sources
1. Camblin G, The Town in Ulster p. 99.
2. The Oxford Companion of Irish History p. 295 (Lands Acts)
Ed by S.J Connolly

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

V. Authorship
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

An interesting example of terrace house building of the mid Victorian era carried out by the Draper’s Company in the Post Famine period to improve the quality and character of Moneymore’s High Street. A fine doorway.

General comments

**Under consideration : awaing additional information** 30th March 2004