39-41 Molesworth Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

This is a three-storey former house, built c. 1874. The property contains an opticians and a charity shop to ground floor, c. 1980, with accommodation above. It is rectangular in plan with a two-storey and single-storey return. The building forms part of a long row of mixed three-storey buildings, built in stages between 1850 – 80, now largely converted to shops, pubs and offices.
The external walls are of original sandstone with clay brick dressings to openings, with chamfered sandstone quoins to front elevation.

The symmetrical North elevation is street fronted. The ground floor contains two shopfronts, one to the East and West, and a doorway to the centre. The panelled doorway is square headed with brick surrounds.

The replacement shopfront to the West is symmetrical in composition. It has a central timber doorway with a solid bottom panel, a glazed top panel, and an overlight. Two large timber double light windows flank each side of the door, set on a rendered stall riser. Two panelled pilasters to each side of the shopfront are surmounted by plain timber console brackets, with a carved painted timber signboard. The shopfront is set on a shallow stone step which stretches across to the central doorway. The shopfront to the East is also symmetrical with a similar composition.

The windows to upper levels are 1/1 timber sash, with brick dressings to surround, classical proportions reduce to upper level.

The East elevation is gable ended with a painted render profiled chimneystack and clay chimney pots set to the ridge line of the main terrace building. There is a square headed timber casement window to upper levels, window opening at ground level is blocked up.

The rear South elevation has a random composition of replacement timber casement windows; window at ground level is blocked up.

There is natural slate to roof with plain ridge tiles and both cast-iron and replacement uPVC rainwater goods.

Returns:
The flat roofed returns contain square headed doors to ground level, and timber casement windows at ground and first floor, with grill to ground floor windows.

The building is set in the North East of the town centre as part of a uniform and matching three-storey terrace.

Historical information

Present nos.39 and 41 were originally part of the same plot acquired in 1872 by a William Mason. The dwelling itself appears to have been completed in 1872, however work on the large collection of outbuildings continued until 1879, (which included a small single-storey structure to the east of the carriage arch- see HB09/13/017M), with the rateable value reaching £56 in that year.

A Matthew Mason is also noted as an occupant alongside William in 1883, with Matthew and a Richard Mason recorded the following year. In 1893 the property was subdivided with the small single-storey structure to the east of the carriage entrance, and half of the rear outbuildings forming a separate lease held initially by a James Mason (but occupied by the above Matthew and Richard). In 1899 Richard Mason is listed as sole tenant, and by 1912 he, (or a relative of the same name), had acquired the lease of the larger property.

By 1924 this lease was in the possession of a Silas G. Glasgow, with a Samuel Glasgow the occupant, and, a year later the lease of the smaller concern was acquired by a Hugh Donnelly, who had been occupying the building since 1916. Hugh Donnelly was succeeded by a William Donnelly in 1948. In c.1956-57 the smaller building was acquired by a Patrick MacMahon, with whom it remained until at least 1972. It was demolished some time after 1975.

The main building was still in being occupied by Samuel Glasgow in 1972, with a William Mason noted as the immediate lessor from 1956 onwards.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI VAL/2D/6/3/1-2 Valuation plan of Cookstown, 1859-82 [2 sheets]
2 PRONI VAL/12B/37/5C Annual valuation revision book, Cookstown ED, 1868-81
3 PRONI VAL/12B/37/5D Annual valuation revision book, Cookstown ED, 1881
4 PRONI VAL/12B/37/5E Annual valuation revision book, Cookstown ED, 1881
5 PRONI VAL/12B/37/5F Annual valuation revision book, Cookstown ED, 1882-90
6 PRONI VAL/12B/37/5G Annual valuation revision book, Cookstown ED, 1882-88
7 PRONI VAL/12B/37/5J Annual valuation revision book, Cookstown ED, 1889-94 [The reference number for this book is out of sequence in the
PRONI catalogue- the dates it covers are actually earlier than VAL/12B/37/5H.]
8 PRONI VAL/12B/37/5H Annual valuation revision book, Cookstown ED, 1895-99
9 PRONI VAL/12B/37/5K Annual valuation revision book, Cookstown ED, 1889-99
10 PRONI VAL/12E/171/1/1-2 Valuation plan of Cookstown, 1892-97 [2 sheets]
11 PRONI OS/33/1/1-5 OS plan of Cookstown, 1895 [5 sheets]
12 PRONI OS/9/10/2/1-2 OS plan of Cookstown, index map, 1895 [2 sheets]
13 PRONI OS/9/10/3/1-5 OS plan of Cookstown, 1895 [5 sheets]
14 PRONI VAL/12E/171/2/1-3 Valuation plan of Cookstown, 1897-1910 [3 sheets]
15 PRONI VAL/12B/37/7A Annual valuation revision book, Cookstown ED, 1901-07
16 PRONI VAL/12B/37/7B Annual valuation revision book, Cookstown ED, 1909-15
17 PRONI OS/33/2/1-4 OS plan, 1909 & 1918 [4 sheets]
18 PRONI VAL/12B/37/7C Annual valuation revision book, Cookstown ED, 1916-29
19 PRONI VAL/3G/142/1 /1-4 Valuation plan of Cookstown, 1936-37 [4 sheets]
20 PRONI VAL/3C/7/8 First general revaluation of Northern Ireland, Cookstown Urban, 1936-57
21 PRONI VAL/3G/142/2/1-4 Valuation plan of Cookstown, 1937-51
22 PRONI VAL/4B/6/10 Second general revaluation of Northern Ireland, Cookstown Urban vol.1, 1956-72
23 PRONI VAL/4B/6/11 Second general revaluation of Northern Ireland, Cookstown Urban vol.2E, 1956-72

Secondary sources
1 Oram, R.W. and Rankin, P.J., Historic buildings…Dungannon & Cookstown (Belfast, UAHS, 1971)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A well proportioned and externally detailed building, representing an important element of the late nineteenth-century architectural heritage of Cookstown. In particular it contributes to the group value of this important street. The building represents those typical of this area, with the then recent arrival of the railway and the increasing affluence and urbanization of Cookstown. The external walls are faced with a good quality ashlar sandstone. and adding to the group value of Molesworth Street.

The terrace 19 - 53 Molesworth Street was built during a thirty year period; despite this time period and the fact that it was built in many stages it has maintained a remarkable uniformity.

General comments

This record includes the two buildings formerly recorded as HB09/13/017 K & L