22 Castle Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

One of a terrace of three three-storey (+ basement and attic) early Georgian classical town houses on the east side of Castle Street. This building is at the right end and is two bays wide. The composition of the terrace suggests that this building and no.20 were erected as a unit.

Gabled natural slate roof with cast iron skylight to front pitch and rendered chimney at right. Right gable has projecting eaves and bargeboard. Concealed gutters to façade with metal downpipe at right.

Walls to street façade are strap pointed random granite rubble with moulded granite eaves course. At ground floor left is a modern painted t+g sheeted door with plain transom over. To right is a 6/6 sliding sash window with horns. There are two identical windows to each upper floor, in line with openings below. All have painted granite cills and rendered reveals; those at top are diminished in height. All are appropriate but not original.

At front is a modern decorative metal railing on a strap pointed random rubble plinth. The gate at left is flanked by squared granite block pillars with concrete caps. Two steps from street to geometric tiled path up to front door. To left of this path is a similar railing, separating it from the coach arch approach.

Left gable forms party wall with adjacent property. Right gable is wet dashed and devoid of openings. Overhanging boxed eaves.

Rear walls are as front. Left bay is abutted by a three storey gabled return. Ground floor of rear elevation was not inspected (although coach arch should be to ground floor right). At first floor right is an exposed box 6/6 sliding sash window and at second floor is a similar 6/3 window (it is uncertain whether this window belongs to this property or no. 20). Neither has a cill and top window is diminished in height.

Return has a gabled artificial slate roof, with the rendered chimney rising from the wall head of its left cheek. Rainwater goods are half round metal. Left cheek walls are wet dashed. Right cheek at ground floor of was not inspected. At first floor centre and left are two 6/6 sliding sashes. At right, where return meets rear elevation is a timber sheeted lean-to with mono-pitched roof, and no windows. It is uncertain whether this rests on a ground floor structure or cantilevers out.

At second floor three diminished height 6/3 sashes, all in line with first floor openings. All windows to this elevation have shallow segmental brick heads/arches over but no cills. Rear gable is random rubble with small casement window to gable at right. Gable is abutted by a second return.

The second return has a gabled natural slate roof, half-round metal rainwater goods and walls are wet dashed. Left wall is in line with left wall of first return and is wet dashed. Right wall at ground floor was not inspected. There is a 1/1 sliding sash to first and second floors; the top one is diminished in height. Both windows have segmental brick heads but no cills. The gable of this return is abutted by a further out building which has been much altered and is of no interest.

Historical information

A building, possibly this one, is shown on John Rocque’s 1760 town map. Definitely shown on 1838 valuation map, when valued as a house at £30. Shown on 1861 OS map along with its returns. Described as three and one third storeys high in 1863 valuation.

Primary Sources:

1. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI - VAL 1D/3/8C (1838 valuation map)
2. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI - VAL 1B/389, p.99 (1838 valuation book).
3. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI - VAL 2B/3/69H, p.147 (1863 valuation book).
4. J. Rocque ‘Map of Newry ’1760.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

One of a terrace of three three-storey (+ basement and attic) early Georgian classical town houses. Retaining most original features. Well proportioned and elegant.