9-10 The Mall

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Four storey brick warehouse fronting the Mall. Pitched natural slate roof, parapeted rendered gables, kneestones and copings with terracotta ridge tiles. Three dormered loading doors with natural slate roofs, slate hung cheeks, and parapeted gables with kneestones and concrete copings. Plastic rainwater goods over exposed overhanging rafter tails, with four downpipes to facade.

Wall to principal facade is red brick with a two-course string of blue engineering brick between each floor and moulded brick plinth. Each of the three string courses is punctuated by four regularly spaced circular tie-bar plates. Three brick dormers for hoisting beams punctuate eaves course over loading doors.

All floors have four bays of paired windows, between which are three bays containing loading doors. Doors on ground floor are higher and wider. Left and centre door openings have original semicircular heads with curved brick reveals. Door to right is rectangular with modern aluminium shutter and box. Doors to left and centre are pairs of panelled timber, not original. Other loading doors are pairs of reproduction panel doors with semicircular heads to first and second floors. To top floor are pairs of four panelled, timber loading doors with semicircular lights over but these have been infilled with modern t+g panelling over top doors.

All window openings have curved semicircular heads and granite cills. Windows to ground floor are higher. Ground floor and first floor windows each have a fixed pane, semicircular transom over and modern metal grilles. Second floor and third floor windows are each vertically divided and two paned. The transom lights in all but ground floor have a roundel set inside Three modern spotlights have been mounted, one to left of each first floor door.

Left and right gables are abutted by lower blocks. Their exposed sections are plain cement rendered.

The rear elevation could only be observed from a window at the back of a building within Hill Street.

The ground floor level of the rear elevation is completely abutted by a large single storey flat roofed extension which spans much the area between this building and the backs / returns of the opposite properties which front on to Hill Street. To the S side the extension links to the return of one of the Hill Street buildings (it appears to be No.90 Hill Street). The extension itself is flat roofed with several large hipped and gabled roofed roof lights and a large, roughly square, projection to the N. Only a small portion of its E elevation appears to be exposed (to the right); this section is largely smothered in creeping plant growth, but appears to be in brick.

The rear elevation of the main original building is completely finished in cement render save a narrow section to the far right which is in brick (which looks like it was originally a chimney breast but is now stack-less). To the left hand side of the elevation there is a large full height gabled bay. To the left of the first floor level of this there is a flat roofed projection, also cement rendered with two small windows to its E face. To the immediate right of this (still within the bay) there is a [?]metal sheeted door, and, to right again, a former window opening (blocked in breeze block but with sill still in place). To the second floor level of the bay there are three former window openings, blocked up as previous. To the third floor level there is a former window opening to left (as before), with two windows to right of this each with eight-pane metal frames. The openings to each floor are directly in line with each other.

To the first floor level to right of the bay there are two former window openings, with a smaller former opening to right of these. To the second floor level there four former window openings, with three more to the third floor with a window with eight-pane metal frame to far right.

The E elevation of the roof has three small [?]cast iron skylights.

Historical information

First cited in the 1911 valuation book. Occupied by Martin, Nesbitt and Irwin from 1914. Another source states that erected in late 19th century as a tea warehouse to a design by W.J Watson.

Primary Sources:
1. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI - VAL 12B/22/16B, p.16 (1911-14 valuation)

Secondary Sources:
1.Newry regeneration Project (1994), “Newry Town Trail”

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Four storey brick warehouse of late date with symmetrical façade and high quality robust brick detailing in mostly original condition. There are few remaining unaltered warehouse buildings in Newry and this is an important building type for the town, reflecting its historical development as a port along the canal and river frontages.