The Central Bar

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Mid-terrace asymmetrical two-storey two-bay public house, built c. 1830, located along west side of Main Street, Irvinestown. Rectangular on plan, comprising public bar and lounge to north, fronting eastward on to Main Street with attached proprietor’s living quarters to west (rear) and south, converted to lounge c. 1987-90s.

Pitched artificial slate roof having half-round cast-iron gutters on plain eaves. Walling is painted render over a shallow projecting plinth, with moulded render embellishments to pub frontage. Window-openings vary - those to former house are square-headed timber two-over-two sliding sash set in contrasting painted reveals. Square-head entrance opening to south has plain reveals, containing timber door with six flat panels under plain transom. Pub front door is four-panelled hardwood timber, painted (see below).

Principal elevation faces east with double-height pub front to north and two-storey former living quarters to south. Former living quarters to south comprises entrance door to south and window at centre, with single window offset to south to first floor, having affixed lettering: ‘CENTRAL BAR’ between. Pub front to north is read as a single element, rising to around three-quarter height, and having each element fully embraced by contrasting moulding. It comprises a central entrance with panel over having projecting pub sign, flanked by two high-level plate glass windows over rendered apron panels. Gilded advertisement lettering to left window; pub sign reads ‘75 YEARS, CENTRAL BAR, IRVINESTOWN, REIHILL’.

South elevation is fully abutted by adjoining building.

Rear elevation of eastern portion mostly obscured by modern abutting structures; upper half has unpainted rendered walling, square-headed window openings containing uPVC casement windows and plastic rainwater goods. Southern elevation of western lounge area has rendered walling, square-headed window openings and concrete cills containing timber two-over-two sliding sash windows and uPVC rainwater goods. Modern extensions have rendered walling, uPVC casement windows, uPVC rainwater goods and flat, felted roofs.

North elevation is fully abutted by adjoining building.

Principal elevation is street-fronted in mixed commercial terrace with main entrances giving onto pavement. Yard in use for storage and smoker’s area and ancillary farm outhouse present at rear.

Roof: Artificial slate
Walling: Painted render
Windows: Timber to front, uPVC to rear
RWG: Cast-iron (front) and uPVC (rear)

Historical information

The Central Bar appears on the OSNI Historic First Edition Map (1835) as part of a terrace along Main Street, Lowtherstown, so named after Sir Gerald Lowther, the town’s founder and eminent seventeenth century Plantation figure. This map testifies to the town’s small scale, with buildings largely confined to Main Street and the surrounding land being rural fields. The town was later renamed when ownership passed to the Irvines of Dumfries, appearing as ‘Irvinestown’ on the OSNI Historical Third Edition (1900-1907). Subsequent OSNI maps demonstrate the growth of the town, with Main Street seeming to remain largely unchanged.

According to Griffith’s Valuation records, Number 38 (currently The Central Bar) was occupied by James Boheney and owned, along with much of Main Street, by Henry M. D’Arcy Irvine. Labelled as ‘house (in rere)’, the building received no valuation, while the land was valued at 15s.

The Reihill family has owned the property since 1924 (Jane Reihill). During the Second World War, The Central Bar is reputed to have been popular with Canadian Airforce men stationed at Castle Archdale, the main flying boat base in Northern Ireland during the war (CAMRA). Over the years, a number of alterations have been made to the property. The rooms located to the rear of the main bar were originally a kitchen and sitting room for the owners, but were later converted to accommodate additional bar seating in the late 1980s. At this time, the flooring of the main bar was also changed. Architect Richard Pierce was responsible for alterations to the pub in the 1990s which included the conversion of the front room abutting the main bar for more seating space.

References
Primary sources:
1.PRONI OS/6/4/11/1 Ordnance Survey County Series First Edition map (1834)
2.PRONI OS/6/4/12/2 Ordnance Survey County Series Second Edition map (1855)
3.PRONI OS/6/4/11/3 Ordnance Survey County Series Third Edition map (1905)

Online sources:
1.https://centralirvinestown.wordpress.com/2015/06/08/the-central-bar-irvinestown-a-history/ [accessed 22/10/19]
2.https://pubheritage.camra.org.uk/pubs/241 [accessed 22/10/19]
3.https://discovernorthernireland.com/Castle-Archdale-Countryside-Centre-War-Museum-Irvinestown-Enniskillen-P2905/
[accessed 22/10/19]

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Evaluation

From the exterior, the building has a formalised vernacular façade with the main public house to the right and former proprietor’s dwelling to the left. The raised cills below the bar windows give separation between the public house interior and the main street. What were probably large etched glass windows serving as signage panels have been replaced.

Original glazed timber screens and timber panelling remain, however the main bar itself has witnessed a number of alterations including the introduction of modern tiled flooring and bar furniture and the replacement of an original fireplace to the rear.

All other rooms have been altered and converted, with little original fabric remaining; to the rear, the exterior of the property has replacement upvc windows and rainwater goods, and modern toilet facilities.

The historic Central Bar is of local interest, as it has been for over a century. The alterations it has undergone are reflective of a business that has evolved and changed over time to suit the needs of its clientele and ensure its own survival. These alterations however, have led to the loss of much original historic fabric; insufficient remains for the building to be considered of special architectural and historic interest.