217 Victoria Road, Bready, Strabane, Co Tyrone BT82 0EB

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached three-bay two-storey house, built 1905 on the site of an earlier dwelling, located to the east side of Victoria Road. Rectangular-on-plan with two-storey return, built c.1930, to east abutted at south by further single-storey lean-to porch; single-storey extension, built c.1950, to north.

Roof is pitched natural slate with blue/black clay ridge tiles; concrete verges; yellow brick corbelled chimneys; pitched asbestos tiles to return and extension. Walls are roughcast with smooth rendered quoins over smooth rendered plinth (over rubble construction with red brick dressings). Windows are segmental-arched-headed timber framed 6/6 sliding sash in smooth rendered architraves with ear and keyblock detail to principal elevation; square-headed to rear; square-headed casement windows to return and extension; all have painted masonry sills.

Principal elevation faces west and contains opening to each bay at each floor centred around square-headed four-panelled timber entrance door flanked by fixed glazed sidelights and surmounted by segmental-arched-headed fanlight; smooth rendered architrave with ear and keyblock detail.

North gable is abutted by extension; exposed section is blank. Extension is blank; west elevation contains three windows; abutted at centre by flat-roofed porch contianing vertically-sheeted timber door to north and window to west and south elevations. East elevation contains verticallly-sheeted timber entrance door.

East elevation is abutted at centre by return; exposed section at left contains 2/2 window at ground floor and window at first floor; exposed section at right contains single window at each floor. Gable-end of return contains window at ground floor and two windows at first floor; south elevation contains single window at first floor; abutted at ground floor by lean-to porch containing window to south and vertically-sheeted timber door to east. North elevation contains replacement timber panelled entrance door.

South gable is blank.

Set in yard directly accessed from road; small front garden bounded to road at west by timber fence accessed through pedestrian wrought-iron gate supported by square rendered piers. One-and-a-half-storey rendered shed building (later) to rear with barrelled corrugated roof.

Roof Natural slate
Walling Roughcast
Windows Timber-framed segmental-arched-headed 6/6 sliding sash to west; square-headed elsewhere
Rainwater goods Cast-iron half-round gutters and round downpipes

Historical information

The house first appears on the third edition Ordnance Survey map of 1905 as part of a group of buildings, some of which were present on the first edition (1833).

Annual Revisions (1860-1924) list an earlier house, offices and land with buildings valued at £1.10s and occupied by James Keys. The property remains in the Keys family until 1898 when Richard McIvor becomes the occupier. In 1902 the value is raised to £4. The accompanying valuer’s notes indicate that this is due to a new outbuilding on the plot. A plan and dimensions of the house and outbuildings is given. The main house on the plot at this time is thatched. In 1905 a new house has been built on the plot and the valuation is again raised, to £9.10s. Accompanying valuer’s notes give a plan and dimensions and estimate the cost at £419. All the buildings on the plot are now slated.

John Throne becomes the occupier in 1911 and by 1933 he is the owner in fee. The valuation is revised to £11.10s for the house and £3.5s for outbuildings (undated change). The house consists of seven rooms, a kitchen, scullery and pantry.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/6/2/1 – First Edition OS Map (1833)
2. PRONI OS/6/6/2/2 – Second Edition OS Map (1854)
3. PRONI OS/6/6/2/3 – Third Edition OS Map (1905)
4. PRONI OS/6/6/2/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map (1936)
5. PRONI VAL/12/A/6/51 – Valuers’ Note Book (1900-1904)
6. PRONI VAL/12/A/6/52 – Valuers’ Note Book (1905-1908)
7. PRONI VAL/12/B/42/18A-F – Annual Revision Records (1860-1924)
8. PRONI VAL/3/D/7/10G/2 – Valuers’ RV Binder (1933-57)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A detached three-bay two-storey house, built 1905 on the site of an earlier dwelling, located to the east side of Victoria Road. The house, located directly on the roadside, retains original features including plaster detailing, windows and doors. This relatively late house has an inappropriate rear extension and there are better examples of the type and period.