8 Main Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Mid-terrace three-bay three-storey over basement with attic-storey stone house, built c.1830. Rectangular on plan, facing southwest, located on the east side of Main Street with roofed access to the rear to the north gable. Lean-to single-storey over basement stone rear extension, built c.2000, range of single and two-storey rubble outbuildings to the north perimeter of rear site and further range to the south.

Pitched natural slate roof, black clay ridge tiles, and pair of large stone chimneystacks rising from either gable end with cement coping. Replacement metal rainwater goods on steel brackets to stone-lined eaves. Coursed and snecked squared sandstone walling with tooled ashlar quoins and string course above basement level. Square-headed window openings with ashlar surrounds, stone sills and uPVC windows.

Three-bay three-storey over sunken basement front elevation with central square-headed door opening having smooth rendered surround, pair of stone plinth blocks and replacement timber panelled and glazed door with rectangular overlight. Door opens onto concrete paved platform bridging basement area with a raised front footpath and stone steps, now containing planting. Basement area paved in concrete slab with hardwood door and steel steps, all enclosed to the street by replacement steel railings.

North gable is abutted by the roof of neighbouring building, allowing access to the rear.

Five-bay four-storey elevation to rear abutted by lean-to stone-built extension to ground and raised basement floors, built c.2000. Coursed rubble stone walling with square-headed window openings having stone lintels (some concrete replacements), redbrick reveals, stone sills and uPVC windows.

South gable is abutted by adjoining two-storey twentieth-century building with a single diminutive window opening to the attic-storey.

Setting

Cobbled rear yard with two-storey rubble stone outbuilding to the north having pitched corrugated iron roof and large sheeted steel doors. Abutting the rear of the adjoining building to the south is a further single-storey outbuilding with pitched natural slate roof and white-washed rubble stone walls.

Roof Natural slate
Walling sandstone
Windows UPVC
Rainwater goods metal

Historical information

There are buildings shown on the site from the first edition OS map of 1833. However, the house is not clearly identifiable in the Townland Valuation (1828-40). It may be a ‘house and offices’, occupied by Alexander Brady and valued at £7.14s.6d.

The house is clearly identifiable for the first time in Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64). It is occupied by Hamilton Bradley, leased from William Stewart and is a house, offices, yard and garden valued at £19.10s. A small extension is shown to the rear of the property. Annual Revision records reveal that the adjacent building to the north is the ‘Charitable Loan Fund Office’ (deleted 1912) and Hamilton Bradley is also listed as the occupier of this building. Jane Bradley becomes the occupier of both buildings in 1879. Dr P Campbell is the owner in fee of the house in 1921.

Post 1934 Dr Campbell is leasing the house from Mrs J Stewart (change undated). At this time it comprises a kitchen, scullery, three rooms, a surgery, seven bedrooms, a bathroom and WC. The valuer comments, “House damp and several rooms unused. Only a doctor is likely to require such a house. Water hand-pumped to roof cistern. Cellar not used”. A plan and dimensions are given showing the extension to the rear and a garage and outbuildings.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/6/33/1 – First Edition OS Map (1833)
2. PRONI OS/6/6/33/2 – Second Edition OS Map (1854)
3. PRONI OS/6/6/33/3 – Third Edition OS Map (1905)
4. PRONI OS/6/6/33/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map (1939-51)
5. PRONI VAL/1/D/6/7 – Townland Valuation Town Plan
6. PRONI VAL/1/B/ 634 – Townland Valuation (1828-40)
7. PRONI VAL/2/D/6/16 – Griffiths’ Valuation Town Plan
8. PRONI Printed Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64)
9. PRONI VAL/12/B/41/18A-F – Annual Revision Records (1860-1929)
10. PRONI VAL/12/E/174/1 – Annual Revisions Town Plan (
11. PRONI VAL/3/D/7/8N/2 – Valuers RV Binder (1933-57)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Mid-terrace three-bay three-storey over basement with attic-storey stone house, built c.1830. This austere townhouse with its stone façade of three storeys constitutes the tallest structure in the village. While of some local interest, alterations have compromised its character and it is not of special architectural or historic interest.

General comments

First Survey incorrect-Maps marked HB11/04/014 as Block 3, Main Street, However photos and description correspond to No 8 Main Street.