10 Edward Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A warehouse complex on the south side of Edward St. It comprises three buildings: (1) a three-storey building set in a terrace along Edward St, (2) an three-storey return at rear left, (3) a tall single-storey shed abutting the right end of the first return; and (4) a shed similar to, and abutting the front wall of, building 3. All the buildings are configured such that they enclose a yard at the rear of the first building.

1. Main block

Pitched natural slate roof (but artificial slates over half to west at front and back) and no chimneys. Asbestos cement gutters and metal down pipes. The bottom half of the front wall is cement rendered and the upper half of exposed random granite rubble. To right at front is a vehicle entrance to the rear yard; it has a horizontal lintel. To left of entrance is a large modern white sign, and above it two projecting signs. At centre of facade on ground floor is a window with a shallow pointed head. At extreme left is a timber-sheeted loading door with wooden jambs and head. Above and in line with this door are two identical doors, one on each floor. Above the second floor door is a cantilevered beam below a slated dormer gable. The first and second floors each have three small 1/1 fixed windows, all without cills and set close to the outside face of the wall; one window on each of these floors is above the vehicle entrance. Between the first and second windows at left on the second floor is a weathered sandstone plaque (with shouldered semicircular head) inscribed 'Sloan 1784'. All the formerly shuttered openings on this facade now have modern wooden casements. Running along the facade between the first and second floors are electrical cables mounted on a timber fascia.

The rear elevation is wet dashed with cement. In the centre of the ground floor is a large pair of metal sliding doors. There are no windows to this floor. At first floor, above arch, is a two-pane fixed window. To its right, above the double door, is an eight-paned casement window. On second floor are three 1/1 top hung windows (one of which is over the arch). All the windows on this facade are metal-framed replacements. The three-storey return abuts this elevation at right.

2. Return

The roof is pitched, gabled and covered with natural slates. Towards right hand end is a skylight to yard. Plastic rainwater goods. Approximately central to yard facade at ground floor is a plain timber door, above which is a t+g loading door at first and second floor (no gablet over). To left of ground floor door is a narrower, lower door. At right is a one-paned timber window. At extreme left is a three-paned top-hung window. In line with it at first and second floors is a 1/1 fixed window. At first floor level, three windows now look into the abutting shed (one of which is blocked). To left and right of second floor loading door is a 1/1 fixed window. Also at second floor, above the abutting return at right, is a metal shuttered opening which gives access to the roof of shed 1. All the windows to this return are later replacements (possibly of shuttered originals).

The rear elevation of this return is abutted by an adjoining property at ground floor level, and no windows are now in evidence. At first floor at left (viewed from outside) is a door (infilled), and three windows to right (two infilled). There is also a door, now boarded up, at the left end of the second floor. On the right gable there are no openings, save two ventilation slits on the second floor.

3. Shed 1

The walls of this shed are cement rendered, save the upper section of the wall facing to the yard which is sheeted with corrugated metal and transparent plastic panels over a wooden frame. The curved roof is also of corrugated metal and plastic. Asbestos cement rainwater goods. The entrance comprises a pair of metal doors in middle of yard facade. Three metal fixed 3x4 paned windows to left and two 2x2 windows to right, all with metal frames. Rear elevation and right gable blank.

4. Shed 2

Aligned parallel to, and at the right end of, shed 1. Walls part cement rendered, and partly of felted wooden boards over wooden framing, Curved metal roof similar to shed 1. Sliding door in elevation facing yard, with two-pane casement window to right. Rear and gable wall blank.

Additional Information

Shed 1 is roughly 24.5m in length, shed 2 roughly 8.6m in length. The curved roofs are on McTear type Belfast Roof Trusses.

Historical information

Plaque indicates erection by a Mr Sloan in 1784. The building is described in the 1836 Valuation as a store belonging to Boyd and Glenny. There was also a kiln attached, suggesting that it was a grain store at that time. By the 1863 Valuation it and the adjoining house (12 Edward St) were in common ownership, and remained so until 1883. The 1838 Valuation map shows buildings were sheds 1 and 2 now stand, but the latter are obviously 20th century replacements. According to owner, the store once a contained a threshing mill. He also stated that the sheds at rear were formerly used by Bessbrook Spinning Co to store flax, and also by HM Customs.

A photograph take in the 1960s shows the ground floor façade to have been unrendered, and to have had a door (in line with the datestone) and a window on either side.

For background information about the Belfast Roof Trusses in Sheds 1 and 2, see HB18/08/139

Primary Sources:

1. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI – VAL 1B/246C, p.23;
2. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI - VAL 1B/246A, p.76;
3. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI - VAL 1D/ 3/8E; VAL 2B/2/39B, p.57;
4. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI - VAL 12B/15/1C, p.281;
5. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI - VAL 12B/22/18A-D.
6. Plaque on façade.

Secondary Sources:

1. M. Jope (ed), 1966, ‘Archaeological Survey of County Down’, plate 200 (Belfast: HMSO).
2. Occupier (2000).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

D. Plan Form
F. Structural System
H-. Alterations detracting from building
I. Quality and survival of Interior
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A warehouse complex comprising three elements - a three-storey granite rubble building along the street and its three-storey return; a tall single-storey shed abutting the return; and a further shed abutting this.

Although their exterior is marred by later refurbishment and minor alterations, the interiors of the two masonry buildings, especially their upper floors, retain their original configuration and character. The main block is of historic interest in terms of its attested date of construction and is of local interest in being representative of the many warehouses which sprang up on the west side of the town during this period.

General comments

Additional information added in connection with the Belfast Roof Truss Survey.