44 Canal Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Three bay, three storey (+ possible basement and attic) house on west side of Canal Street.

Pitched artificial slate roof with corbelled oversailing eaves and plain slated verges. Concrete copped rendered chimney to each gable; left has two pots and right has six. Semicircular metal rainwater goods with downpipe to left. Wall to facade is painted lined render with stepped render quoins to each side and raised eaves course.

East elevation - main entrance is offset to left of central bay. Two granite steps rise to a ten panelled (three rows of three, top three small and bottom one fourth row, horizontal) painted timber door. This is framed by an aedicule consisting of a pair of Tuscan 3/4-attached columns on plinths supporting a moulded entablature. Over entablature is a glazed semi- elliptical fanlight. All are set with a semi-elliptical head with painted, voussoirs over granite jambs. Left jamb has a raised impost and is shared with coach-arch to ground floor left. Coach-arch contains a pair of large, stained t+g sheeted doors (with wicket) set within a semi elliptical headed opening with left jamb detailing and head same as that to front door. Both door openings are the same height and left jamb of coach arch forms a stop to quoins to left of facade.

All windows to facade are painted timber exposed box replacement sliding sashes with painted granite cills. To ground floor right is an 8/8 window. Below at ground level is an opening with which seems to serve as a basement (head is roughly in line with the top step of door). To first and second floors are three equally spaced 6/6 windows, not in line with ground floor openings. Those to second floors are diminished in height.

South gable is abutted by a lower property (no.42) and its exposed section is cement rendered. North gable is similarly abutted and rendered.

Rear elevation is unpainted cement render. Carriageway to right bay has exposed painted timber lintel and is rendered internally. Ground floor is abutted by a single storey extension, which wraps around left corner. All windows are 1/1 plastic with painted granite cills. There is a single window to left and right bays on both upper floors. To central bay there is a single window between ground and first floors and similar above between first and second floors. Extension has a pitched concrete tiled lean-to roof flanked by flat felt roofs. Its walls are cement rendered and it has two large picture windows and two small windows to rear and a two paned modern glazed door.

To rear is paving with long mature garden beyond, enclosed to either side by rubble stone walls.

Historical information

Shown on 1835 OS town map. Described in 1838 valuation as being occupied by Margaret Moore and measuring 32ft x 30ft x 28ft (including arch). Quality letter (1A) implies that of early 19th, rather than late 18th century date. Similar dimensions given in 1863 valuation (which also notes a cellar).

Sources:

1. PRONI – VAL 1D/3/8E (1835 map);
2. PRONI – VAL 1B/246C, p.52 (1838 valuation);
3. PRONI – VAL 12E/125/1/7 (1861 map);
4. PRONI – VAL 2B/2/39B, p.31 (1863 valuation).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A well preserved mid-Georgian town house but not of special architectural or historic interest. The inappropriate works at the rear also devalue the building.