6 Marcus Square

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Right one of a pair of three-storey (+ basement and attic)/ two-bay classical Georgian townhouses fronting the west side of Marcus Square.

Pitched natural slate roof, with cement rendered chimney to right gable. Projecting eaves course with cast metal half round rainwater goods.

Walls to street façade are painted lined render. On wall over ground floor openings are green plastic (individually fixed) letters advertising the occupant.

Main entrance is at ground floor left. Five granite steps (that have subsided to the left) lead to front door. Replacement door is six panelled, painted timber. It is flanked by two fluted Doric demi columns supporting an entablature; which has a cornice decorated with metopes triglyphs. Resting on the entablature is a semicircular leaded fanlight with Greek key pattern border to head and leaf motif to centre. Doorcase and fanlight are all set within a semicircular headed opening now with additional plain glass in front of fanlight. Fixed to wall to right of door is a modern name plaque.

On wall to right of door is 1/1 (double glazed) sliding sash timber window with metal security grille over. Basement area is infilled, and there are marks on the render at ground level indicating that a window opening has been infilled. At first floor are two 1/1 sliding sash windows identical to that on ground floor offset to right of openings below. At second floor are two 3/3 (double glazed) sliding sashes, in line with those below but diminished in height. All windows to façade have granite cills.

Plain spiked original iron railings to right side entrance steps; to left the shop front of no. 6 encloses steps. Railings have an urn topped newel to second step with a patera relief on its squared base. Two railings have been widened to incorporate bootscraper.

Right gable is abutted to left of centre by the adjacent property, the remainder is rendered and has four openings. To centre of gable, between basement and ground floor level is a 6/3 sliding sash half landing window with some glazing bars to top sash missing. Above, between ground and first floor level is another 6/6 half landing window. The third 6/6 landing window is centred between first and second floor. In gable, to centre is a 3/3 sliding sash window.

Left gable forms party wall with adjoining property (no.7).

Rear elevation is not accessible, although internal inspection suggests that there is a 3/3 sliding sash window and door to basement, two sliding sash windows to ground floor (one blocked up from inside), two to first floor and two to second floor.

Historical information

Hill Street was laid out by the Downshire family in the mid 18thC as a formal extension to the town. This house is shown on 1835 OS map and valued at £32 in 1838 valuation. Described as 3 ½ storeys high plus basement in 1863. It is believed locally that these were the premises in which the Misses Bryden ran a private school for young ladies, where John Mitchel first met Jenny Verner.

Primary sources:
1. OS map 1835 edition, PRONI OS 9/15/1/1
2. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI - VAL 1B/389, p.47 (1838 valuation book).
3. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI - Val 2B /3/69G, p29 (1863 valuation book).

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

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
D. Plan Form
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Right one of a pair of three-storey (+ basement and attic)/ two-bay classical Georgian townhouses. Most original features surviving.