4 Circular Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A semi detached 3 bay wide 2 storey house with back return faced with ashlar sandstone. The house has a westerly aspect with an entrance porch projecting from a pedimented gable. 3 steps ascend to the recessed framed and panelled door, upper panels glazed. The porch is constructed of ashlar sandstone which is returned on its flanking wall, finished with a solid parapet which returns as far as the roughcast rendered 2 storey back return. The rainwater drains into a cast iron trunkhead and c.i. downpipe. Over the porch and centred on the gable a 9 pane double hung sliding sash window at 1st floor and directly over and within the pediment a semi-circular headed 13 pane double hung sliding sash window. The pediment, moulded, is constructed in timber with a generous overhang which continues round the front and rear of the main block. The gable is built entirely in fine ashlar sandstone including the tympanum.

The front of the house is 2 bays with 2 tall vertical windows divided horizontally into 3 panes. The centre one opening. The windows directly above of less height have 2 panes horizontally divided with upper one top hung. The wall is faced with ashlar sandstone. Ogee metal gutter which returns along the bottom member of the gable pediment and a downpipe drain to the porch roof. The 2 storey back return is finished in roughcast rendering unpainted. Roof has natural slates, a single chimney stack shared with No. 6.

The house (semi-detached) is set well back from Circular Road with avenue approach. Metal gates and posts are modern.

Historical information

These houses were erected by the Drapers Company to improve the appearance of the town. Booth designed the houses and Mager built them for £775. They were begun in 1830 and completed in 1832 more or less contemporary with the new parish church. Apart from the extended back returns little alteration has occurred to the gable and front façade of No. 4 except that the window divides were changed after some bomb damage. The extended back returns are shown on the O.S. Map of 1906. The O.S. memoirs mentions much of the housing erected in Moneymore up to 1836-7 but does not mention these well constructed and impressionable semi-detached houses in Circular Road. They do refer to “very nice 1 storey cottages built of sandstone, in the neatest and most substantial and uniform manner”. When completed the house was occupied by the C of I curate.

References

Primary Sources
1. O.S. Map 1832 Londonderry sh. 46.
2. O.S. Map 1832 Rev. 1856 Londonderry sh. 46.
3. O.S. Map 1906 Londonderry sh. 109.
4. O.S. Memoirs of Ireland, Parishes of Co Londonderry XI, 1821, 1835, 1836-7 p. 39.
5. Curl J.S. Moneymore and Draperstown UAHS p. 43, 48
6. Curl J.S. The Londonderry Plantation 1609-1914 p. 208
7. Notes, 1st Survey, E.H.S. Hill Street, Belfast

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
H-. Alterations detracting from building
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

V. Authorship
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

An interesting semi-detached house of 1832 erected by the Drapers Company as an example of better class dwellings and to improve the appearance of the village. It in conjunction with its neighbour and another pair of similar design beyond the Second Presbyterian Church, they are a fine example of early village planning. Built of ashlar stonework and though severe design are impressive especially with their classical overtones.