Wan-Ho Chinese Takeaway

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A three and a half storey/ two-bay ashlar granite shop with house over and two rear returns, on the corner of Merchant's Quay and Edward Street, with frontage to the former.

Pitched roof with artificial slates to overhanging boxed eaves, with bargeboards on gables. Single Velux skylight on each pitch. Rendered chimney on right gable and metal rainwater goods.

All walls, with exception of first and second floors of front facade, are cement rendered; the latter are of finely dressed granite ashlar. All the windows have semi-exposed boxes and are set close to outside face of walls.

The main entrance into the shop is set diagonally on the right corner of the facade. The door comprises two t+g timber leaves with rectangular transom light above. At left end of facade is entrance door to upper floors; it has six panels with plain rectangular transom light above. Between the doors is a large fixed timber shop window divided into 12 lights (4x3); those at top left and right are top hung. Between the ground and first floor is a timber fascia board to which is affixed a plastic box sign reading "Wan-Ho Chinese & European Take-Away". Immediately above it are three spotlights. Towards the bottom right corner of the first floor is a satellite dish and projecting name sign. At first and second floor are three equally spaced top-hung casement windows (all windows are as these) with granite cills; the windows on the first floor also have metal security grilles fitted. The windows to second floor are diminished in size. A cast-iron rainwater pipe runs down the facade at left.

The right gable has a large shop window, identical to that on the facade, towards the right end on the ground floor. The timber fascia on the facade continues around the corner along this side. Windows on the first floor have metal grilles, and the second floor ones are diminished. At attic level, set to right of centre, is a single-pane window. A water pipe runs from cill level under the right-hand second floor window diagonally to the right side of this gable and continues vertically to the ground.

On the rear elevation, a one and a half storey return abuts at left. A three-storey stairwell return abuts at right. On second floor of back wall of main block are two windows.

The rear return at left has a pitched artificial slate roof and metal rainwater goods. A tall chimney rises from the middle of the street-facing wall. At right is a painted timber door with timber jambs and horizontal head. To its left are two horizontally-divided 2/2 exposed box sliding sash windows, with metal grilles over. Upper section of wall blank. A metal stairway runs up the outside of this building on yard side.

The three-storey stairwell return at right of rear elevation to main block has a pitched artificial slate roof which is married into the rear pitch of the main roof. There are three windows on its end gable - one between ground and first floor, the other between first and second floor - and another window between second floor and attic.

Historical information

A building approximating to the size of the present one is cited in the 1836 Valuation book. It then belonged to James Quinn and comprised a house, stores, office and yard. Its £48 valuation was amongst the highest on Merchant’s Quay, indicating a sizeable building. The 1838 Valuation map shows steps up to the entrance at left on the main façade. The 1863 Valuation book indicates that the building was now subdivided into a shop (on the ground floor) and house. The valuations given in the Valuation Revision books do not indicate any major rebuild.

The Lawrence photograph of c.1870 shows the building with a shop front to the right, and door into house at left. However, it differs in several respects to the present building in that the door had a semicircular over light, the first floor windows were 6/6 sliding sash, and the top floor windows 6/3 sliding sash.

Primary sources:
1. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI - VAL 1B/ 246B, p.95.
2. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI -VAL 1B/ 246A, p.73.
3. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI -VAL 1D/3/8F.
4. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI - VAL 2B/2/39B, p.60.
5. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI - VAL 12B/15/1A-G.
6. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI - VAL 21B/22/18B.
7. PRONI-photograph (no.1179)in Lawrence Collection.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A three and a half storey/ two-bay ashlar granite shop with house over and two rear returns. An imposing building occupying a prominent position on Merchant’s Quay. However, its appearance is marred by modern alterations. It has also lost a significant proportion of its internal details. The combined effect of these changes means its present condition no longer merits listing.