9 Townhall Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

An attached three-bay two-storey rendered house, built c.1880, located on the east side of Townhall Street. Rectangular on plan, facing west; modern single-storey flat-roofed extension.

Pitched natural slate roof, blue/black clay angled ridge tiles, polychromatic brick chimneystacks, ogee-profile cast-iron gutters, projecting eaves on carved painted timber brackets. Walling is painted ruled-and-lined rendered over plinth, stringcourse between ground and first floor and at first floor-lintel-level raised as segmental arch-heads over first floor windows. Windows are square-headed uPVC casements.

Principal (west) elevation is four windows wide, left bay has two openings at each level; to the centre is a segmental arch-headed door opening with replacement raised-and-fielded three-panelled double-leaf hardwood door with plate-glass overlight.To the right bay is a square-headed carriage arch with original vertically-sheeted double-leaf timber doors.

North gable is abutted by adjoining building, exposed section is blank.

East elevation is abutted by modern extension; exposed section has painted rendered, variety of uPVC casement windows at first floor.

South gable is entirely abutted by adjoining building.

The house is situated on Townhall Street with a paved rear court.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: Painted ruled-and-lined rendered
Windows: uPVC
RWG: Cast-iron

Historical information

This building was constructed in a group with its neighbours (10/04/045A and B) and can therefore be dated to 1880 according to a datestone appearing on the centre building.

There are buildings shown on the site from the time of the 1833 OS Map. Unfortunately the earliest town plan, which dates from 1828-40, has not survived, and the building is, therefore, not identifiable with certainty in the Townland Valuation. It is possible, however, that a building on the site is one that was occupied by Jones Crawford Esq and valued at £28. (Pigot and Co’s Provincial Directory of 1824 lists Major Jones Crawford under ‘Nobility, Gentry and Clergy’ of Newtownstewart, p.414)

Griffith’s valuation lists the large plot as a public house and offices, valued at £24 13s 1d and notes that it was a former ‘gentleman’s private residence’. The occupier is Patrick McGlenahan who leases it from Daniel Baird.

Revisions lift the value of the plot to £18. In 1877 the plot is split into two and the public house to the east becomes separately listed. The buildings are now valued at £9 and occupied by the Representatives of Daniel Baird in fee.

Between 1879 and 1880 the plot was redeveloped and divided into three separate buildings, numbered 1b, 1c and 1d (corresponding to 5, 7 and 9, respectively).

Number 1d is occupied by Bernard Gillespie and is a house, offices and small garden valued at £10 10s. In 1901 it is leased by Dr James Rankin from Maturin Baird. In 1934 the lessor continues to be Maturin Baird but is now occupied by Michael Gallagher and valued at £15.10s. The valuer notes that the house is ‘in very good condition’. Measurements are given.

References:

Primary Sources

1.PRONI OS/6/6/17/1 – Ordnance Survey Map 1833
2.PRONI OS/6/6/17/2 – Ordnance Survey Map 1854
3.PRONI OS/6/6/17/3 – Ordnance Survey Map 1905
4.PRONI VAL/1A/6/17 – Townland Valuation Map
5.PRONI VAL/1B/637A-F – Townland Valuation Records (1828-1840)
6.PRONI VAL/2/D/6/10 – Griffith’s Valuation Town Plan (1849-1869)
7.PRONI VAL/2/B/6/40B – Griffith’s Valuation Records (1858)
8.PRONI VAL/12/E/160/1 – Annual Revision Records Town Plan (1898)
9.PRONI VAL/12/E/160/2 – Annual Revision Records Town Plan (1908)
10.PRONI VAL/12/B/42/27A-F – Annual Revision Records (1860-1929)
11.PRONI VAL/3/D/7/107/2 – Valuers RV Binders (1933-57)

Secondary Sources

1.Pigot and Co’s Provincial Directory 1824

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

An attached three-bay two-storey rendered house, built c.1880, located on the east side of Townhall Street. Although not identical, the house shares many design features with 5 Townhall Street (HB10/04/045A) and both properties were built to flank the contemporaneously built former Newtownstewart Town Hall, 7 Townhall Street (HB10/04/045B). Despite some alteration, with the loss of original windows, the house retains its fine style, proportion, ornamentation and some interior detailing. The building forms part of a distinct group with the original townhall building and occupies a prominent setting in Newtwonstewart close to Newtownstewart Castle and the Main Street.

General comments

This record was previously part of HB10/04/045 along with Nos. 5 & 7 Townhall Street.