Loane's Drapery

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Description at 02.06.2006. Building is now demolished and replaced with a new-build hotel.

Description at 23.05.2001 Substantial two storey rendered terrace house with shop of c.1840s, relatively plain with a mid 20th century shop front. To the rear there is a very large plain single storey gabled extension of c.1930/40s which spans a formerly open yard. The property is set in the middle of the terrace on the NW side of The Square at the centre of Crossmaglen.

The front façade faces SE and is asymmetrical. To the right of centre is the house doorway, which consists of a seven-panel timber door with large rectangular fanlight. The doorway is encased with a moulded architrave with ‘keystone’ (the mouldings to the openings may be late 19th or early 20th century). To the left of the doorway is a large shop front with large plate glass windows flanking a panelled timber double door with large rectangular fanlight. This ensemble is topped with a tiled panel (c.1940s-50s type) with a relatively small central timber signboard. To the right of the house doorway is a plain sash window with moulded surround and hood on plain brackets. This window is set on a sill course. To the first floor are four plain sash windows with moulded surrounds with ‘ears’. Sill course to first floor also.

The front façade is finished in painted lined render with moulded quoins and a bracketed sill course. The SW gable is completely covered by the taller two storey neighbouring property (a former bank). The uppermost third of the NE gable is exposed. This is finished in plain unpainted render with a small plain sash attic window to left and a similar sized Georgian-paned sash window (8/8) to the right.

The rear elevation of the original portion of the building is now largely obscured by the large mid 20th century double pile extension. To the centre of the original rear elevation there is a two storey projection with a shallow-pitched lean-to roof. To the ground floor of the SE face of this there is a timber sheeted door and a plain sash window. To the upper level are two plain sash windows. To the rear façade of the main section of the building (to left of the projection) there is a sash window to the ground floor (horizontal glazing bars 2/2) and one to the first floor (Georgian panes 6/6). The remainder of the rear elevation (including the NW face of the projection) is obscured by the aforementioned extension, but from internal evidence it appears that this face has two first floor sash windows, (as previous), to façade of main section. The rear elevation of the original building is finished in painted render.

The roof of the original section of the building is gabled and slated. To the left hand side at the front and the right hand side at the rear is a small cast iron skylight. Three brick chimneystacks (probably early 20th century). Cast iron rw goods.

The extension is finished in rough cast render with a hipped and gabled asbestos-slated double pile roof with large cast iron skylights. There appear to be no openings to the exposed faces of the extension. To the SE face there are projecting structural piers. The extension spans over what was an open yard, thus creating what is now a large enclosed store / outbuilding. Within this store area there is a small original outbuilding to the SE side and a long outbuilding to the NW side. Both of these outbuildings appear to have been single storey, but their roofs have been removed to accommodate the large extension. In the middle of the formerly open yard there is a large round metal plate which may cover a well.

Historical information

The OS memoirs of 1838 state that of the 111 houses in Crossmaglen at this time, 85 were two storey and slated. On the valuation map of c.1836-8 the site of the above described building was occupied by three two storey dwellings which were at least over twenty years old at that stage. The valuation map of 1859 shows that by that date a single building was in place, which the accompanying valuation notebook records as two storey, perhaps around twenty years old and ‘a good business concern’. As subsequent valuation records give no indication of the 1859 structure being replaced, it is likely that it is the same building we see today. It seems likely also, given the phrase ‘a good business concern’, that the building incorporated a shop from the beginning- or at least early in its lifetime

In c.1931 the property was bought by Mr George Loane, who ran it as a drapery shop. It was he who added the large extension to the rear [?in c.1945-50].

c2005 the drapery shop was demolished and replaced with a new build hotel, following structural engineers advice.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI VAL/1B/ First valuation, Creggan, 1836-8
2 PRONI VAL/1D/10 First valuation plan of Crossmaglen, c.1836-8
3 ‘OS Memoirs of Ireland- Parishes of County Armagh’ ed. Angelique Day and Patrick McWilliams (QUB 1990), p.27
4 PRONI VAL/2D/5 Second valuation plan of Crossmaglen, 1859 [with later annotations]
5 PRONI VAL/2B/2/14G Second valuation notebook, Crossmaglen village etc., 1859[-1864]
6 PRONI VAL/12B/12/3A-E Revaluation books, 1864-c.1904
7 PRONI VAL/12E/61/1 Revaluation plan of Crossmaglen, 1904 [-1909]
8 PRONI VAL/12E/61/2 Revaluation plan of Crossmaglen, 1909-35
9 PRONI VAL/3G/42/1 Revaluation plan of Crossmaglen, 1936-57

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Evaluation at 02.06.2006. The building has been demolished and is therefore not of listable quality.

Evaluation at 23.05.2006. Substantial two storey stuccoed terrace house with shop of c.1840s, relatively plain with a simple mid 20th century shop front. The survival of the shop and dwelling as one unit is of interest. The interior of the shop was altered post-World War II but retains the original layout; many original details survive in the dwelling. The condition and construction of the rear extension detract from the shop, although it was a development of the business.