12 Circular Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A 3 bay, 2½ storey semi-detached house, back return, ashlar sandstone, side porch.

The elevation to Circular Road has a westerly aspect with flat roofed side porch, recently converted to a low pitched lean-to roof, 4 steps ascend to framed and 6 panelled fielded door with low wall to steps. Porch built in ashlar sandstone with solid parapet wall (see above) and 2, 2 pane modern windows on flanking wall, the rear of which abuts against a small 1½ storey back return also built of ashlar sandstone to side but of pink sandstone on gable. A clasping pilaster to one side of porch wall. Above porch a 2 pane window and above a semi-circular headed 2 pane window in pediment. The lower member of the pedimented gable is missing and the course filled in with plaster. Gable wall built of ashlar sandstone.

The front has 2, 8 pane tall vertical windows on ground floor and directly over 2, 4 pane squarish windows. Flat soffit, extruded ogee gutter, single downpipe. Wall built of ashlar sandstone, roof natural slates, central chimney stack in sandstone shared with No. 10 Circular Road. The small 1½ storey back return to the south is probably original with pitched slated roof with window in gable. A recent single small back return has been added to it. A wall divides the backyard from No. 10. On front façade, under soffit, an old insurance sign (fire).

The house observes the fixed building line, set well back from Circular Road with short avenue approach. Garden tidy, unfortunate balustrading erected in front of house. There is a well maintained range of outbuildings to the rear, neatly maintained and stonework painted white. There is an access lane to the rear serving all the properties. There is an old cast iron pump in yard but may not be original.

Historical information

These houses were erected by the Draper’s 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 been little altered over the years except for the replacement windows. The O.S. Memoirs refers to much of the housing erected up to 1836-7 but does not mention these well constructred and impressionable semi-detached houses in Circular Road. See HB09/06/019A, 019B, 021A.

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, 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 neighbour and another pair of similar design N of the Second Presbyterian Church, are fine example of early village planning. Built of ashlar sandstone, though of severe design, are impressive especially with their classical overtures. The interior of No. 12 is well preserved as is the back return.