Warehouse adj. To 1 Canal Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A three-storey warehouse (five openings wide) fronting the west side of the Newry canal.

Roof is gabled, with corrugated metal to one half and natural slates to the other. Rainwater goods missing.

Main façade, which faces east, is smooth cement rendered over random rubble (render in very poor repair). At ground floor left is a large entrance with steel lintel across just beneath second floor window opening and right jamb of concrete block. Contains a set of metal-framed double doors sheeted with corrugated metal. At right is a smaller flat-headed doorway with painted t+g sheeted door (with wicket gate). Between these two entrances, just right of centre, is a small window opening, now sheeted over, but retaining granite cill and metal security bars. At first floor centre is a t+g sheeted loading door. A pair of metal brackets below its cill indicates the former presence of a loading chute. To either side of door are two t+g shuttered window openings, none with cills. There is a similar loading door and four windows on second floor, in line with those below but diminished in height. The second floor door is partly accommodated in a gable rising from eaves. Over it is a cantilevered timber hoisting beam. This gable retains its natural slates.

The right gable is of unrendered random granite rubble and was formerly abutted by a lower building, now gone. At first floor right is an infilled doorway.

Left gable is abutted by a lower two-storey building; the exposed section of wall is wet dashed.

The rear façade is abutted at left by a two storey return and along the remainder of its façade by a two-storey annexe rising to eaves level. Internal inspection indicates that this wall has a brick headed doorway in what is now the party wall at ground floor left. The wall at right has been demolished to improve access to the annexe (upper floor walls supported on steel joist). At first floor left is a doorway to annexe. To its right is a t+g sheeted loading door (defunct when annexe added). Right again are two window openings, now shutterless (also made defunct when annexe added). At second floor are similar openings in line with those below. A gable (with natural slate roof) rises from eaves above the loading doors (no cantilevered beam).

The return at left has a pitched corrugated-metal roof which ties in with rear pitch of main block. However, the join of their walls indicates it has been added to the existing front block. It has random rubble walls with raised brick eaves course. Its north-facing wall has an infilled window opening at first floor left. Its south wall, which faces into the yard behind the main block, has, at ground floor, two semi-elliptical arches between which is a small door; four windows to first floor.

The annexe has been added to the above buildings and has three small eaves gables at right angles to the axis of front block. At ground floor is a small door, window and semi-elliptical arch. At first floor are two windows and a loading door at centre. Some of these openings have brick relieving arches.

On the opposite side of the yard, opposite the above return, is a two-storey random rubble building, four openings wide (all to yard). It is now ruinous and without roof and floors.

Historical information

The right return is possibly shown on Bernard Scale’s 1763 town map. All buildings (including rear portion of main block) are definitely shown on the 1836 Valuation Map and described in the accompanying Valuation Book as stores belonging to Corry, Little and Swanze. A kiln is also noted on the site, presumably for drying grain. By 1863, the premises were in the ownership of William Sinclair and Abraham Walker; the kiln is now described as dilapidated. In 1888 the entire complex was down valued due to its dilapidated condition.

Primary Sources:

1. 1803 map, PRONI D671/M9/5;
2. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI VAL 1B/ 246A;
3. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI VAL 1B/ 246E, p.101;
4. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI VAL 1D/3/8E;
5. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI VAL 2B/2/39G, p.11;
6. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI VAL 12E/125/1/7;
7. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI VAL 12B/15/1E, p.255.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A three-storey warehouse. This warehouse is of some historical interest as an example of a late 18th/ early 19th century canal warehouse, however, insufficient fabric of quality remains to merit listing.