5 Margaret Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Three-storey building located on the northern corner of Margaret Street and Abbey Way forming a group with nos 2 (HB16/28/052A) & 4 Abbey Way (HB16/28/052B), all of which are constructed in a similar manner.

Pitched natural slate roof is hipped at the corner of Margaret Street and Abbey Way. There is a single rendered chimney on party wall with no.2 Abbey Way.

Walls to both elevations are painted lined render with raised stepped granite quoins to corner. Margaret Street elevation has five arched openings to ground floor. There are three semi elliptical arches supported by shared, band-rusticated, V-jointed piers. Each has a raised keyblock to head and a raised moulded impost. The right arch is narrower than the others and contains a pair of sheeted metal doors with fanlight over. The pair of openings to left of entrance door are both single fixed pane windows with granite cills and rendered stall risers. Each have a metal security grille over. To ground floor left are two similar but separate archways. That to right contains a window as before, that to left has a modern three panelled door with sidelights and fanlight. To each upper floor are five windows. Each is in line with a ground floor opening. All windows to upper floors are modern reproduction sliding sashes with horns. Those to first floor are 6/6, those to second floor are 6/3 and diminished in height

Left elevation (to Abbey Way): At ground floor are three semi elliptical arches supported by shared, band-rusticated, V-jointed piers. Each has a raised keyblock to head and a raised moulded impost. The left arch is narrower than the others and contains a pair of sheeted metal doors with fanlight over. The pair of openings to right of entrance door are both single fixed pane windows with painted granite cills and rendered stall risers. Each have a metal security grill over. To each upper floor are three windows, each with a granite cill. To first floor are three equally spaced modern reproduction 6/6 sliding sashes with horns on granite cills. All windows are in line with those to ground floor. At second floor are two reproduction 6/3 sliding sash windows, with horns.

Left gable (on Margaret Street) is abutted by adjoining property; and right gable (on Abbey Way) is abutted to right by adjoining property. No access gained to rear.

Historical information

Shown on 1835 OS map and valued at £60 in the 1838 valuation book (the most valuable in the entire area). Described as three storeys high in the 1863 valuation.

Primary Sources:
1.PRONI- OS 9/15/1/1 (1835 map);
2.PRONI - VAL 1B/389, p.48 (1838 valuation book);
3.PRONI - VAL 2B/3/69G, p.38 (1863 valuation book).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Three-storey building forming a group with nos 2 & 4 Abbey Way. Important part of corner group in prominent location in the conservation area. Early building in one of the oldest parts of Newry now much altered. It is no longer of special architectural or historic interest and conservation area protection is more appropriate in this case.