Credit Union

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Narrow three storey two bay rendered building located to the centre of the west side of Hill Street. Roof pitched and natural slated, part of the left gable is exposed and roof joins adjacent property to right. Cement rendered chimney with projecting coping to right of roof. Rainwater goods located behind projecting eaves course. Painted metal semicircular downpipe.

Wall to façade is smooth cement render with stepped v-jointed quoins to left and right. Those to left are painted granite and those to right are painted render.

At ground floor centre is an arched doorway with v-jointed granite piers and voussoirs, projecting impost blocks and keyblock. To left of arch is security alarm box. In the opening is a pair of modern timber doors with sidelights on either side and transom light over. Between the door and sidelights are two timber pilasters which support a moulded timber lintel. Over the lintel is a decorative leaded fanlight.

At first floor are two 6/6 sliding sash windows with painted granite cills and shared hood moulds in moulded render. Between the two windows is a modern projecting sign with “Credit Union” on it. At second floor are two modern 6/6 sliding sash windows diminished in height than those to F/F. Each window has a separate moulded hood mould.

Rear elevation: Ground floor forms party wall with rear extension. All windows to first and second floor are 6/6 sliding sash with granite cills; one to first floor, one located left between first and second floors and two to second floor.

Historical information

Originally part of no 76 Hill Street (to its right), and shown on the 1835 OS map. The 1863 valuation suggests that it was possibly a warehouse associated with this building. The block seems to have been sub-divided in the mid 1860s as it is described in the valuation books from 1866 onwards as a licensed house and store belonging to Duncan Alderdice & Co Ltd.

Primary Sources:
1. PRONI- OS 9/15/1/1 (1835 OS map).
2. PRONI- VAL 2B/3/69G, p.20 (1863 valuation).
3. PRONI- VAL 12B/22/16A, p.7 (1866 valuation).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Narrow three storey two bay rendered building with fine well proportioned and embellished front façade with high quality doorcase, but with no internal features surviving. The façade and a few minor internal features are all that survive of the original building and it does not merit listing. Conservation area protection is more appropriate in this case.