6 Circular Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A semi-detached house 3 bay wide, 2 storey with back return, faced with ashlar sandstone and matching No. 4 Circular Road.

The house has a westerly aspect with entrance porch projecting from pedimented gable. 4 steps ascend to the recessed, framed and double arched panel door. The porch is constructed of ashlar sandstone which is returned on its flanking wall finished with a solid parapet, stringcourse moulding, and returns as far as back return. The rainwater drains into a trunkhead and cast iron 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, bottom member broken, is constructed in timber, its former generous overhang continues round the front and rear of the main block forming good plain soffits. The gable is built entirely in fine ashlar sandstone including the tympanum. The flanking wall of the porch has 2 small vertical 9 pane double hung sliding sash windows.

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 of pediment and drains onto porch roof.

The back return differs from No. 4 Circular Road being setback in line with main block gable and is probably the original type back return. A tall chimney stack rises from the side wall of the return. A galvanised water tank is supported above the porch roof and to its rear.

Roof has natural slates and a single chimney stack shared with No. 4.

The house (semi-detached) is set well back from Circular Road with avenue approach. Metal gates and posts may be the originals.

Historical information

These houses were erected by the Drapers Company to improve the appearance of the town and provide a better house type. Booth designed the houses and D Magee built them for £775. They were begun in 1830 and completed in 1832, Booth thought progress was slow just like the new parish church which was being erected at the same time but with a Belfast builder. The house has bee little altered over the years except for the replacement windows on the front façade. The O.S. Memoirs mentions much of the housing erected on Moneymore up to 1836-7 but does not mention these well-constructed and impressionable semi-detached houses in Circular Road (see HB09/06/019A). The house, on completion, was occupied by the minister of the Seceding Presbyterian Church next door.

References

Primary Sources
1. O.S. Map 1832 Londonderry sh. 46.
2. O.S. Map 1832 Rev. Londonderry sh. 46.
3. O.S. Map 1906 Londonderry sh. 109.
4. O.S. Memoirs of Ireland, Parishes of Co Londonderry XI, 1821, 1833, 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 neighbours and another pair of similar design beyond the Second Presbyterian Church are a fine example of early village planning. Built of ashlar sandstone, and though of severe design, are impressive especially with their classical overtones.