39 Bowling Green

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Large, unusual part three, part two-storey terrace house, which appears to have been built in at least two stages, the tallest section to the northwest dating from c.1835, the lowest section perhaps c.1860, with an intermediate three-storey portion to the rear which may date from some time between these dates. The property, one on a short late-Georgian row, and was converted into eight apartments and an office in 1970. The property is set within the terrace on the east side of (the) Bowling Green.

This house has a slightly unusual form. To the NW is a large, but relatively narrow, three-storey double-pile block, with two gabled blocks to the SE, that to the front two-storey and that to the rear three-storey. The front elevation is asymmetrical and faces roughly SW. The main entrance is to the left hand side of the ground floor of the two-storey section to the right (SE). This consists of a panelled timber door with high level three-pane sidelights and a broad plain rectangular fanlight. The sidelights and fanlight are encased with a moulded architrave, with brackets under the cills of the former. There is a somewhat curious cornice-like moulding above the entrance.

To the right of the entrance is another doorway (which leads into the office). This consists of a somewhat narrower panelled and glazed timber door with plain rectangular fanlight, all encased with an architrave as previous. To the left of the entrance (within the tall three-storey section), there are two windows window Georgian-paned timber sash frames and surrounds similar to the entrance itself. To the first and second floors of three-storey section there are similar windows, with those to the second floor shorter (three panes over six). There are two windows to the first floor of the two-storey section, as those to the ground and first floors of the three-storey portion, but set at a slightly lower level that those to the first floor of the latter.

Stretching from the right hand (SE) edge of the two-storey section there is a tall wall, which abuts the neighbouring property. This wall has a doorway with panelled timber door and blind ‘fanlight’. A projecting course above this doorway suggests that there was once a vehicle entrance here. The front elevation is finished in painted lined render.

The SE elevation of the building consists of the gable of the two-storey section to left, that of the low three-storey section to right, and set back from these, the double-pile profile of the tall three-storey portion. Only the upper half of the SE gable of the two-storey section could be seen, however internal evidence shows that there is a doorway, (with partly glazed recent door), to the ground floor. It does not have any openings, nor does the exposed uppermost section of the SE façade of the three-storey portion. To the uppermost storey of the gable of the low three-storey section there is a segmental-headed window to left is a horned timber sash frame (one over one). To the right of this there is a much smaller flat-arched window with recent timber frame. There appears to be a window to the left on the first floor also, but only the very top of this could be seen. The SE elevation is finished in lined render and partly painted.

The rear (NW) elevation consists of the two three-storey sections, with the lower of these to the left. The ground floor level of the latter section could not be seen, however, to right on the first floor there is a small window with recent timber frame. There is a similar window to left on the second floor, with a larger window to right with a horned timber sash frame (one over one). There is a window to each floor of the taller section. The windows to the first and second floors correspond to those on the front façade of this section, whilst the window on the ground floor would appear to correspond also, however, it could not be seen in its entirety. There is an ‘extra’ small window to left on the first floor, with recent timber frame, with a smaller window to right on the second floor with what appears to be a fixed timber frame. The rear elevation is finished in lined unpainted cement render.

The NW elevation consists solely of a relatively small exposed section of the main three-storey section. It is finished as the rear elevation, but does not possess any openings.

All sections of the roof appear to be slated with a rendered chimneystack to SE gables of the lower three-storey section and that of the two-storey section. The larger three-storey section has two rendered stacks, each set ‘lengthways’. The rainwater goods are a mixture of cast-iron and PVC-u.

Historical information

This site is shown developed on the OS map of 1833-34. Unfortunately the town plan of Strabane drawn up to accompany the valuation of 1832-34 has been lost, making it extremely difficult to trace any details of the buildings within the town at this date with any degree of certainty. Reading through the valuation book itself, however, there appears to be nothing to match the size of this property. Thus it would appear that this house dates from after 1834.

Whatever the case, the continuity of information supplied by the second valuation of 1857 and all others thereafter, demonstrates that building was standing in some form at least that date, with the property occupied by Robert Wilson in 1857 and the representatives of Alexander Auchinleck the immediate lessor. Interestingly, an Alexander Auchinleck is noted as owning an old, long, one / one and a half-storey thatched house in the Bowling Green in the 1832 valuation. It seems likely that this structure occupied the site of the present building, its plot probably covering those of the present nos.43 and 45 as well, seeing as both were also the hands of Auchinleck’s representatives in 1857.

The somewhat complex form of the building suggests it was built in sections. The map accompanying the aforementioned 1857 valuation bears this out, as the two-storey portion is not shown. It is uncertain when this was added, as no major changes are recorded in the annual valuation revisions which commence in 1864. It is possible that it appeared some time during the hiatus in the valuations between 1857 and 1864, however the only problem with this theory is that the rateable value recorded in the former year is exactly the same as the latter (£24-10-0), suggesting no alterations. The value did rise by £1 in 1870, but this is too insufficient an amount to account for such a large extension. Whatever the course of events, its Georgian paned windows suggest that it is likely to have been added sooner rather than later after 1857; evidence shows that it was certainly in place by 1883.

As far as the lower three-storey section to the rear of the house is concerned, all that we can say is that it was present in 1857, but whether it was original or not is difficult to tell [particularly as the surveyors could not get access to much of the building]. The segmental-headed window –a common later 19th detail- to the SE gable could be an indication of a later addition. The relatively recent changes to the interior as well as the lack of documentary evidence make it difficult to be certain.

The human history of the house is easier to trace. Robert Wilson, (an ‘attorney’ who had offices in the neighbouring property- the present no.37), was followed by William Wilson in 1874, who in turn was succeeded by an Oliver White in 1888. In 1892 the lease was acquired, or passed to, a Miss Hamilton, and in 1902 a William Keatly became the tenant. Annie F. Keatly is recorded as the next occupant in 1919, followed by Charlotte Keatly in 1947, and Gordon Simpson in 1963.

In 1970 the property was split flats and an office, the valuers recording the creation of three flats and the office on the ground floor, two flats on the first floor, and either two or three flats, (they are unclear on the matter), on the second floor.

References- Primary sources
1 ‘Pigot & Co’s City of Dublin and Hibernian Commercial Directory (Manchester 1824)
2 PRONI VAL/1B/638A First valuation, Camus parish (1832-c.38)
3 PRONI VAL/1B/638B First valuation, Camus parish (1832-c.38)
4 PRONI VAL/1B/638C First valuation, Camus parish (1832-c.38)
5 PRONI OS/6/5/5/1 OS map, County Tyrone sheet 5 (1833-34)
6 Lewis, Samuel, ‘Topographical history of Ireland’ (London, 1837)
7 ‘Slater’s National Commercial Directory of Ireland (Manchester, 1846)
8 ‘Slater’s National Commercial Directory of Ireland (Manchester, 1856)
9 PRONI VAL/2B/6/41 Second valuation, Camus parish (1857)
10 PRONI VAL/2D/6/18A Valuation town plan of Strabane (1857 [-59])
11 PRONI VAL/2D/6/18B Valuation town plan of Strabane (1857 [-59]) [PRONI also holds a microfiche copy of this plan, catalogued under the ref. T/2933/4/252.]
12 PRONI VAL/12B/42/31A Annual valuation revision, Strabane ED(1860-64)
13 PRONI VAL/12B/42/31B Annual valuation revision, Strabane ED (1864-73)
14 ‘Slater’s Royal National Commercial Directory of Ireland’ (Manchester, 1870)
15 PRONI VAL/12B/42/31C Annual valuation revision, Strabane ED (1874-81)
16 PRONI VAL/12B/42/31D Annual valuation revision, Strabane ED (1882-91)
17 PRONI OS/8/25/1/1-17 OS town plan of Strabane (1883)
18 PRONI OS/9/22/2/1-17 OS town plan of Strabane (1883)
19 PRONI VAL/12E/187/1/1-12 Valuation town plan of Strabane (1884 [-1908])
20 PRONI VAL/12B/42/31E Annual valuation revision, Strabane ED (1892-96)
21 PRONI VAL/12B/42/31F Annual valuation revision, Strabane ED (1892-96)
22 PRONI VAL/12B/42/31G Annual valuation revision, Strabane UD (1897-1910)
23 PRONI VAL/12B/42/31H Annual valuation revision, Strabane UD (1897-1910)
24 PRONI OS/8/25/2/1-3 OS town plan of Strabane (1905)
25 ‘Belfast and Province of Ulster Directory’ (Belfast, 1905)
26 PRONI VAL/12B/42/31J Annual valuation revision, Strabane UD (1911-22)
27 PRONI VAL/12B/42/31K Annual valuation revision, Strabane UD (1911-22)
28 PRONI VAL/12B/42/31L Annual valuation revision, Strabane UD (1922-31)
29 PRONI VAL/12B/42/31M Annual valuation revision, Strabane UD (1922-31)
30 PRONI VAL/3B/7/14 First General Revaluation of Northern Ireland, Strabane UD (1935
31 PRONI VAL/3C/7/23 First General Revaluation of Northern Ireland, annual revisions, Strabane UD (1936-57)
32 PRONI VAL/3G/159/1/1-3 Valuation town plan of Strabane (1936-55)
33 PRONI VAL/3G/159/2/1-3 Valuation town plan of Strabane (1951-55) [Sheets 1 and 3 are currently missing.]
34 EHS OS map (1:10,000 scale), sheet 72 (1983)

Secondary sources
1 Bradley, Jim, et al, ‘The Fair River Valley: Strabane Through the Ages’ (Belfast, Ulster Historical Foundation, 2000)

Other
references
1 EHS HB10/14/005 First Survey report (10 Feb 1970)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Large, unusual part three, part two-storey terrace house, which appears to have been built in at least two stages, the tallest section to the northwest dating from c.1835, the lowest section perhaps c.1860, with an intermediate three-storey portion to the rear which may date from some time between these dates. This building has largely maintained its mid 19th century appearance to the front elevation and despite interior alterations it remains of special architectural and historic interest.