95 Aughnagurgan Road, Newtownhamilton, Co Armagh BT35 0EB

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

This building was demolished prior to November 2021. Recorded in December 2019 as follows:

Detached two-storey three-bay former shop, built c.1932-33, at corner junction of Blaney Road and Aughnagurgan Road, south-west of Newtownhamilton, Co. Armagh.

Pitched natural slate roof with roll-top terracotta ridge tiles and two yellow brick gable chimneystacks with stepped masonry coping. Mixture of cast-iron and plastic rainwater goods on plain timber fascia with timber bargeboards to gable ends. Walling is mostly unpainted roughcast render with smooth render platband under eaves and smooth shallowly projecting plinth. Square-headed window openings with plain reveals and projecting masonry sills containing multi-paned timber casement windows throughout.

Symmetrical principal elevation faces east with three windows to first floor and shop frontage to ground floor. Painted smooth render walling to shop frontage under projecting moulded stringcourse with mounted lettering reading ‘J. GRAY & CO. LTD’. Centrally placed double-leaf timber door under eight-paned transom and two flanking window openings containing timber casements covered by metal mesh window grilles; doorway and windows recessed from frontage with chamfered reveals to surrounds. Door opens onto concrete path at front with steps to south.

South elevation has two windows to first floor with masonry lintels, plain reveals and projecting sills. Windows covered by wrought-iron window bars. Remnants of original cast-iron downpipe affixed to walling. Ground floor has hipped one-storey extension with decoration matching that of main structure.

North elevation has decorative painted timber bargeboard to gable apex. Two windows to first floor with masonry lintels, plain reveals and projecting sills. Ground floor has mono-pitched one-storey extension with decoration matching that of main structure; boarded-up timber sliding sash window covered by wrought-iron window bars.

Rear (west) elevation has a pitched one-and-a-half storey extension to south and a two-storey flat-roofed rear return to north.

Setting

Several corrugated iron outbuildings to rear of building, rear yard closed off by corrugated iron gate to south and timber shed to north. Gravelled space to front giving directly onto Aughnagurgan Road.

Situated on elevated plot at junction of Blaney Road and Aughnagurgan Road with housing to north and east.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: Roughcast and smooth render
Windows: Timber
RWG: Cast-iron/ plastic

Historical information

This building appears in the valuation book for the first time in 1933, indicating that it was either built in that that year, or (more likely), within a year or two previously. It is noted by the valuers as a ‘house, shop, office [i.e. outbuilding] and yard’ (with 'small garden') in the ownership of James Gray & Co. and valued for rating purposes at £13-10-0.

It is possible that the owner was the same ‘J. Gray & Co. Ltd.’ of Castleblayney who was wishing to employ a manager with a 'thorough knowledge and general ironmongery trade' for his business's 'hardware department’ in April 1934, and was most certainly the ‘J. Gray & Co. Ltd., Altnamackin, South Co. Armagh’ who was advertising stoves and surplus A.R.P. fire hoses for sale in May 1946.

According to the valuations, the shop itself appears to have remained open until at least 1957.

References: Primary sources
1 Ordnance Survey maps - 1906, 1956, 1985
2 PRONI VAL12F/2/6/12 Valuation book, Tullyhappy and Tullyvallen ED - 1930-35
3 ‘Belfast News-Letter’ - 10 April 1934, p.12; 17 May 1946, p.2
4 PRONI VAL3C/2/15 First general revaluation of Northern Ireland, RD of Newry No.4 - 1936-57

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

This building was demolished prior to November 2021. Recorded in December 2019 as follows:

A two storey rendered building in a simplified late Arts & Crafts or Domestic Revival style, located on a prominent rural corner site a few miles to the west of Netwownhamilton. This former shop at the corner of Blaney Road and Aughnagurgan Road is a fine example of an early 20th century local shop with a plain, symmetrical shop frontage still intact. The building exhibits an attractive yet restrained, functional style demonstrative of its purpose, with ground-floor accommodation housing a shop and private accommodation above, likely for use by the owner. With the exception of several windows which have been damaged, the vast majority of original external historic fabric remains in situ, most notably the shop frontage, multi-paned fenestration and signage. A significantly sited building of social and ecomonic importance to the local community, the shop would have served the surrounding farms and local families during much of the 20th century. The building continues to be understood in its original setting, sited on an elevated plot which dominates the junction of two roads. Uncompromised views of the building are an important feature which once would have attracted business, now ensuring that the building continues to act as a local landmark.