Site of former no. 15 Bowling Green, Strabane, Co Tyrone

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Site, close to the southern corner side of (the) Bowling Green, formerly occupied by large three-storey terraced house of probable pre 1832 construction, demolished c.1997 with an office built in its place, the façade of which is a virtual replica of the original building.

The First Survey description of 10 February 1970 describes the short terrace of largely identical properties to which the house belonged, it reads:
‘A terrace of four, three-storey houses, with rendered walls and slated roofs. Drop-hung windows have either plain sashes or sashes divided into two panes by single horizontal glazing bars. Except for one house, windows have been enclosed in in square moulded architraves. The entrances of two of the houses are flanked by plain pilasters rising to consoles supporting cornices. Rectangular fanlights contain [word unclear] and radial glazing bars. One entrance contains a modern door, and the fourth [presumably no.13] -set in a moulded architrave- has a plain fanlight over the door.’

Historical information

This site is shown developed on the OS map of 1833-34. Unfortunately the 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, one finds four dwellings of identical size whose dimensions, (23ft x 26 x 27, with returns of 23 x 12½ x 12), appear to match the two remaining original dwellings of this short terrace (nos.17 and 19). These four houses, regarded by the valuers as ‘not new’ at that point, were occupied by a Francis O’Brien, Colonel McAlpin, Daniel Wauchob [probably Wauchop] and William Elliott.

The second valuation of 1857 retains its map, which shows the terrace much as it was until the part demolition of recent years. Unusually, (and, once again, unfortunately), the valuers supply no details of the dimensions, nor any ‘quality letter’, so we cannot make any comparisons in terms of measurements or age, and therefore cannot ascertain whether the buildings of 1857 were indeed the group of four mentioned in 1832. There are two ‘links’ between the former and latter valuations, however, which would tend to suggest that it was the same terrace. Firstly, the immediate lessors of the houses recorded in 1857 are listed as ‘the representatives of Colonel James McAlpin’, the same man, (it would appear), who was is noted as occupying one of the properties in 1832. Secondly, in both valuations two houses are valued slightly lower than the other two, (on account, according to the 1832 details, of one pair not having cellars).

Neither of these ‘links’ prove that the buildings of 1857 -two of which are still standing today- were the properties noted in 1832. Externally, their general appearance, (notwithstanding the later plate glass sashes and flat-panel doors), can safely be classed as ‘ late Georgian’, as can the remaining original internal detailing to no.17, in particular the staircase and the noticeably squat doorways and five-panel doors. The decorative consul brackets over the doorways have a somewhat Victorian feel, but they could well have been later additions.

No.15
In 1857 the house later known as no.15 Bowling Green was occupied by a Thomas Craig. In 1867 McColgan was succeeded by a Thomas Craig, who remained there until 1869, when he moved into the neighbouring house (latterly no.13). The next occupant Mary J. Flanagan, who stayed on until 1878, by which date a James Scott had become the immediate lessor. The building is listed by the valuers as the home of a William R. Orr between 1878 and 1886, lying vacant in 1887, before passing to a John McGinty the following year and an Andrew Hamilton in 1890.

From 1895 to 1899 a Rev J. McIlhatton lived in the property, succeeded by a Samuel [?]Ewing (1899-1902) and a William Stewart (1902-08). By this stage the representatives of Colonel McAlpin are noted once again as the immediate lessor, however in 1908 the lease had come nto the possession of A.K.S McA Roberston, (probably a relation / descendant of McAlpin, judging from the initials). By 1909 a Terence Fox is named as the resident, followed by a John Gormely (1910-15), Daniel McCaffery (1915-17), James McKee (1918-28), James Ross (1928-36), John N. Clements (1936-45) and Donald Smyth (1945-51). In the latter year a Eugene Gormley became the immediate lessor, with a Joseph and Theresa Gormley noted as the occupants. A K.G. Fitzpatrick rented the property from 1954 to 1956, and an M.J. Conway from 1956/57 until at least 1972.

The property was demolished c.1997 along with the neighbouring house (no.15). A new Credit Union office, (opened October 1999), now occupies the combined sites, its façade replicating that of the original buildings.

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 HB10/14/018 First Survey report (10 Feb 1970)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Site, on the southern corner side of (the) Bowling Green, formerly occupied by large three-storey terraced house of probable pre 1832 construction, demolished c.1997 with an office built in its place, the façade of which is a virtual replica of the original building.