5 Sugarhouse Quay

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A three-storey/ two-bay house, orientated east-west with gable frontage to Newry canal at Sugar House Quay.

Hipped natural slate roof now devoid of chimneys. Half round asbestos cement gutters. All walls are lined smooth cement rendered except for ground floor of front gable, which is wet dashed.

At ground floor right on front gable is main entrance. One granite step leads up to a modern metal-sheeted door. The jambs are of ashlar granite and are flanked by a pair of three-quarter attached granite Tuscan columns supporting a moulded granite entablature over which is a segmental headed wrought-iron cobweb fanlight (panes missing). The door, casing and fanlight are all set within a segmental headed opening, the edges of which are beaded.

The original window to left of door has been lengthened to accommodate a pair of modern metal-sheeted doors; the enlarged opening has cement-rendered reveals and flat head. At first and at second floor are two modern three-paned timber windows (horizontally divided with opening middle section) in what are probably original openings. They are in line with one another but offset to left of ground floor openings; all have cement rendered reveals and concrete cills. There are painted signs across the facade above and below the first floor windows; these advertise a previous occupant.

At front is a low chambered ashlar granite plinth, the only survival of the railings which enclosed the front of the building.

The building is abutted at left by a double-pile warehouse and at right by a lower (rebuilt) house.

The rear elevation is abutted at ground floor right by a one-storey artificial slate lean-to shed. This contains a central heating boiler and a metal flue rises from its roof. To its immediate left is a modern door into main block (in place of the original back room window). At first floor a large tripartite window at right lights the back room. It comprises a 6/6 sliding sash flanked by a 2/2 sash on either side. There is a similar window, now sheeted over, directly in line at second floor. On the left bay is a semi-circular headed opening on half landing between ground and first floor; it contains a modern fixed window. There is an identical opening on the half landing above, now sheeted and without its window. The extreme left side of the wall was abutted by a two-storey building, now demolished.

Historical information

Probably of later 18th/ early 19th century date. Cited in 1836 Valuation Book and described as 39’6” x 24’6” x 35’ (and therefore largely unaltered in terms of size).

Primary Sources

1. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930,PRONI VAL 1B/ 246A, p.63,
2. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI VAL 1B/246E, p.113,
3. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI VAL 1D/3/8E.
4. Archaeological Survey of Co. Down, p.439 (entry 417.36).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A three-storey/ two-bay house. Although this building still retains a few original features, there has been too much alteration both inside and out to merit listing.