43 Molesworth Street, Cookstown, Co Tyrone, BT80 8NX

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

This is a single-storey cement rendered wall, formerly a house, c. 1872, now demolished to create a car park and access to the rear. The architectural form of coach arch to right remains intact, however none of the original fabric has survived.

Historical information

The building which once stood on this site was built c.1879, as part of a complex of outbuildings belonging to the large neighbouring house to the west, (present nos.39 and 41, HB09/13/017K), itself built in 1872 by a William Mason.

William Mason himself is noted by the valuers as the original occupant of the property, with a Matthew Mason resident alongside William in 1883, and Matthew and a Richard Mason recorded as the tenants the following year. In 1893 the property was subdivided with this structure, 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 building was acquired by a Patrick MacMahon, with whom it remained until at least 1972. It was demolished some time after 1975.

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

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Little remains of this former building and it is of little interest or value to the architectural heritage of this important street in Cookstown.