47 Main Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two storey/ four bay house on south side of Main Street.

Pitched natural slate roof (aligned W-E) with terracotta ridges and modern metal rainwater goods on boxed timber eaves (over brick eaves course). Three cement rendered chimneys, one to each gable and one to centre.

Front elevations is N facing and constructed of squared granite rubble, brought to courses and heavily strap pointed. Each corner of the main block has a cement render dressing. There is a single opening to each floor of each bay. At left is a reproduction 1/1 exposed box sliding sash window, with horns and dressed granite cills. Two concrete steps rise to front door in second bay from left; this has five panels (bottom one largest), all raised and fielded, and a one-piece granite lintel and granite blocks to base of jambs. Immediately to its right is a similar infilled doorway to third bay. Right-hand bay has a semi-elliptical headed coach arch, with roughly dressed granite voussoirs. It contains a pair of sheeted timber doors with similar sheeted panel to head. There are four 1/1 replica sliding sashes to first floor, all in line with ground floor openings but diminished in height; their lintels are at eaves level.

Each end gable is blank and smooth cement rendered with an inset basecourse.

Rear (S) elevation wall is as the gables. It is abutted to third bay from left (at viewed from rear) by modern a two storey return. Remaining wall at left has a modern stained and sheeted door; to first floor is a modern top-hung timber window with thin concrete cill. Second bay has a large modern timber window with concrete cill. Fourth bay has a pair of modern French windows with a large modern window to first floor.

Return has a pitched artificial slate roof with boxed eaves and plastic rainwater goods and down pipes. Its walls are as rear wall and all its windows and door are modern and of inappropriate design.

Front garden is enclosed to road by a rusticated concrete block work wall with projecting copings. Modern wrought metal gates to drive. To rear of house are a number of much altered rubble stone outbuildings.

Historical information

Shown on the 1835 valuation map and cited in the accompanying valuation book as a police barracks. This function appears to have ceased in the 1840s (there are plans, dated 1846, for a new station, although it was not enacted in this form). The c.1859 valuation map shows it was now divided into two houses, and this is confirmed by the c.1861 valuation. The refurbishment/modernisation works have all been undertaken during the 1980s/ 90s.

Primary Sources:
1. First valuation map, 1835 (PRONI: Val 1D/3/10).
2. First valuation book, 1836 (PRONI: VAL 1B/354. p.29 and 32).
3. Plans of a police barracks to be built at Hilltown, July 1846 (PRONI: D671/P7/6).
3. Second valuation map, c.1859 (PRONI: VAL 2D/3/16).
4. Second valuation book, c.1861 (PRONI: VAL 2B/3/49C, p.25).
5. Owner in 1999.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

This building retains no features of special interest.