2-3 Sugarhouse Quay

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

This building was surveyed 07/04/1998 and the following report prepared. It has since sufferd partial demolition - a record of this has been added at the end of this window.

A multi-storey/ multi-bay warehouse (with buildings to rear), directly fronting Sugar House Quay on the south side of the Newry Canal. Street façades face northwest. The complex comprises six contiguous blocks arranged about a central courtyard.

Block 1

Aligned along the street, this four-storey block comprises two distinct sections: (1.1) a long single-bay block, four openings wide, to left of vehicle entrance at centre, and (1.2) the remainder of the block which has three openings to front (including vehicle entrance). Abutting part of 1.1 and all of 1.2 at rear is a lean-to, 1.3.

Block 1.1 has a natural slate roof, hipped to its left side. An artificially slated dormer gable rises from the eaves above loading doors at second opening from left. Gutters are missing.

Façade wall of smooth lined render with raised brick eaves. At extreme left of ground floor is a large double-leaf door, above which is a single shuttered window opening to each of the three upper floors, all with metal security bars over. To the right of each of these upper floor windows is a painted timber loading door, with a cantilevered hoisting beam in the apex of the aforementioned dormer gable. To the right of the second and third floor loading doors are two shuttered window openings to each floor. Below the lower pair of windows is a painted wall sign advertising the previous occupant (Small, Bennett & Co, Engineering Contractors). None of the windows to this, or any other block, have cills.

The left gable of this block is of random rubble granite, with squared quoins and raised brick eaves. There is a shuttered window opening under the eaves at centre. The jambs of this opening are partly of brick. The right gable forms a party wall with Block 1.2.

The rear elevation is abutted at middle by Block 2 and at left by Block 1.3. At ground floor right, the coach arch emerges. It now has a flat concrete head, but retains its original segmental brick arch; the void between the old and new head is infilled with concrete blocks. There is also a small shuttered window opening to top floor.

Block 1.2 is the same height as Block 1.1 and also has four floors. An artificial slate roofed gable rises from the eaves at middle, directly above loading doors (in second opening from right). The main roof, which is pitched throughout, is sarked and felted to left of this gable and artificially slated to right. Plastic gutters. At ground floor left is a large vehicle entrance rising to top of first floor. It has an RSJ lintel and contains a pair of t+g doors, partly metal-sheeted. Above it, at second floor, is a window opening. The middle section has painted timber loading half-doors to second and third floors. There was formerly also a door at first floor, but this is now rendered over, as has been a small window in line at ground floor. There is a cantilevered hoisting beam in the gable apex. At right is a painted timber door to ground floor. Above, and offset to its left, is a single window opening to the first and second floors (no window to top floor); the one to middle floor has metal security bars.

The right gable is abutted by a lower two-storey house. The left gable forms a party wall with Block 1.1.

The back wall is abutted to eaves level by Block 1.3. A slate-hung gable rises from eaves level at middle, in line with the loading door gable to front.

Block 1.3 is a three-storey addition to the street-front blocks with artificial slate monopitch roof. It has random rubble granite walls with raised brick eaves course. Half-round metal gutters. At centre right (as viewed from rear) is the aforementioned vehicle entrance. Its RSJ lintel cuts through a segmental brick arch. At ground floor left are two window openings, one of which has been created in a partially infilled door. In line at first floor are two similar openings, one with metal security bars. There are two similar openings to second floor, and a third opening over the vehicle passage. All openings, except those at top floor have segmental brick heads, and all have brick jambs.

The left gable is abutted by Block 5. The right-hand end is abutted by Block 2.

Block 2

This comprises a four-storey return which cuts into the roof line of Block 1.1 towards its left end (as viewed from street). It has a pitched roof, hipped on its back (south) gable. The front section is sheeted in corrugated metal, and the back section in natural slate. A square brick chimney rises from the front gable. Half-round asbestos cement gutters. Random granite rubble walls with raised brick eaves.

The principal elevation faces east, away from the complex. It is abutted at left by Block 3. The remainder of the wall is three openings wide. At ground floor centre is a pair of metal-sheeted doors. Directly above, on each of the three upper floors is a set of double-leaf painted timber loading half-doors. There is a cantilevered hoisting beam at eaves level (no gable over). Symmetrically arranged at left and right on each upper floor is a single shuttered window (all but one with metal security bars). The ground floor windows are infilled with concrete blocks. All but one of the openings on this elevation have brick jambs and all the windows have brick heads. There are metal patress plates to second and third floors. A small single-storey shed with corrugated-metal lean-to roof abuts at left in the corner with Block 3.

The elevation facing into the yard is slate hung to its upper floors. It is abutted at left by Block 1.3, and at right by Block 4. At ground floor left, in angle with Block 1.3, is an abutting single-storey corrugated metal shed. There is a modern door at ground floor right. There are two windows to first floor, one to second, and two to third. All are irregularly arranged and have segmental brick heads. There are patress plates to second and third floors (as per corresponding opposite wall).

The gable facing to south has small window openings to upper floors.

Block 3

This abuts the south end of the east wall of block 2. It is four storeys high with a hipped natural slate roof, random granite rubble walls and raised brick eaves. The elevation to north (ie towards street) has a modern t+g door in an original opening at ground floor. To its left is a timber-framed top-hung window, again in an original opening. Above the door, at first and second floors is a window opening; the lower one has metal security bars, and the upper one wooden bars. At third floor are two window openings, one with metal security bars; unlike the other windows to this elevation, both have brick jambs and heads.

The elevation to east (ie away from complex) has brick quoins to street end of top floor. The ground floor was formerly abutted by a gabled single-storey building, the ghost of which is still clearly evident. The ground floor is rendered over. At first floor is an infilled brick-headed door. The remaining two floors above each have a single window opening, but with brick heads and now infilled.

The gable facing to south is abutted up to second floor by a building in another property. There are several small window openings to its third floor.

Block 4

A double-pile/ four-storey building abutting the south end of the west wall of Block 2. Runs parallel with Block 1 along the south side of the yard. Walls are of granite rubble brought to courses with raised brick eaves. Gutters missing. Pitched natural slate roof.

Elevation to yard (north facing) is four openings wide. Entrance comprises a double-leaf t+g door in third opening from left. Similar doors directly above to each of the upper floors. To left are two window openings to each floor; at right is a single window opening to each floor. All these openings have segmental brick heads. The window openings also have brick jambs and each has a two-paned timber window frame. There are metal patress plates to all floors.

The right gable (as viewed from yard) is abutted at middle by Block 5. There is a single window opening at left to each of the upper floors; the first floor opening retains its timber framework. All have segmental heads and brick jambs. The left end abuts Block 2.

Rear wall has windows to upper floors.

Block 5

A two-storey block linking Blocks 4 and 6. Flat roof and concrete block walls. Elevation to yard contains door at first floor, accessed by metal ladder. Of no interest.

Block 6

A two-storey block running along the west side of the yard and aligned parallel with Block 2. Pitched roof, partly artificial and partly natural slated. Asbestos-cement gutters, partly missing. Random rubble granite walls.

Elevation to yard has, at middle, a large modern door with concrete lintel. Miscellaneous infilled and new openings to its left. Three window openings to first floor (two are original and all have modern window inserts).

South gable abutted by Block 5. North end abuts rear of Block 1.2 and part of adjoining premises.

Elevation away from yard (ie west facing) is partly abutted by a single-storey link block to shop on Sugar Island.

AMENDMENTS

Partial demolition took place during the week commencing 11/10/04.

Block 1
Block 1.1
Roof demolished and top floor partially demolished. Rubble has fallen through the other floors and also into the kiln. Shutters to all windows in the front wall are gone.
Block 1.2
Roof and top floor demolished down to heads of openings on floor below. Rubble is lying on the third floor. Timber loading half doors to centre opening in the upper front wall are gone.

Remaining buildings on the site are as recorded previously.

Historical information

A building is shown hereabouts on Scale’s 1763 map, but it is by no means certain that it relates to any of the present structures. Some of the existing buildings are detailed in the 1836 Valuation. The section to the left of the vehicle entrance was occupied at that time by Francis Carville and is described as “stores and yard”, all valued at £40; the store at front is noted as two storeys high. A salt store is also recorded. The right-hand section of the complex was occupied by James (or John) Ritchie and was also “stores and yard”, valued at £22. There was a three storey store to front (Block 1.2) and to back.

By the time of the 1863 Valuation, Block 1.3 had been added. If the interpretation of the Valuation revision map and book are correct, the two-storey store was rebuilt in the present four-storey form in or around 1873 by John Kidd Todd (who had acquired it 1870). He also acquired Block 1.2 in 1876. One-, three- and four storey additions are noted in 1893; the south section of Block 4 possibly dates from this time.

Primary Sources:

1. PRONI, D 671/M9/5 (1763 map);
2. PRONI Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, VAL 1B/ 246A, p.63;
3. PRONI Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, VAL 1B/246E, p.112;
4. PRONI Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, VAL 2B/2/39B, p.9;
5. PRONI Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, VAL 12B/15/1A, p.159;
6. PRONI Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, VAL 12E/125/1/12;
7. PRONI Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, VAL 12B/15/1C, p.236;
8. PRONI Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, VAL 12B/15/1E, p.249;
9. PRONI Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, VAL 12B/15/1G, p.252.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
D. Plan Form
E. Spatial Organisation
H-. Alterations detracting from building

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Z. Rarity
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

This complex originated in the mid to later 18th century, although it is uncertain that any of the original buildings survive, and was developed over the next hundred years to service the adjoining canal. Most of the existing buildings are 19th century, demonstrating the development of business on the site, and it is the most extensive warehouse complex to survive in Newry.