51/53 Smith Street, Moneymore, Magherafelt, BT45 7NN

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A pair of semi-detached houses, 6 bay wide, 1½ storeys, gabled and slated.

Each semi detached house has a central panelled door with chamfered sandstone surround painted arch and on each side a 4 pane double hung sliding sash 4 pane window, one wider than the other and both with chamfered sandstone surround, and on each side a 4 pane double hung sliding sash window, one wider that the other and both with chamfered surrounds painted. Walls roughcast rendered and painted white, with plinth and painted quoins. ½ round metal gutter on corbel course, shared downpipe. Natural slated roof, No. 51 has a small velux rooflight, gabled with heavy moulded kneelers, with flat barge stones brought to an apical point in front of chimney stack. Rectangular sandstone chimney stacks on each gable and a central chimney stack of 2 diagonal flues straddling ridge. In each gable a 2 pane casement window lighting attic. Wall finished as before.

The pair of houses set back a little with broad footwalk to Smith Street. Probably intended that the houses had narrow front gardens. Deep gardens to rear.

Historical information

Nos 51 and 53 are probably part of “eight more paired cottages for the south side of Smith Street” designed by Booth with his usual “very heavy kneeler blocks”. While the effect is very robust, it tends to eluminess”. This pair of cottages have retained their Booth characteristics much more than others in Smith Street. William Magee was to built them.

References

Primary Sources
1. O.S. Map 1832 Londonderry sh. 46.
2. O.S. Map 1832 Rev. 1856 Londonderry sh. 46.
3. Curl J.S. Moneymore and Draperstown UAHS p. 34, 35
4. Curl J.S. The Londonderry Plantation 1609-1914 p. 215, 216, 281, 222

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
D. Plan Form
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

V. Authorship
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A well preserved pair of semi-detached cottages erected by the Drapers Company in Smith Street and designed by W.J.Booth.