Armaghdown Bar

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A two-storey/ two-bay ashlar granite building fronting the north side of Monaghan Street, with two-storey rubble-granite warehouse at rear.

1. Office

Front block has pitched fibre cement slated roof with a rendered brick chimney to each gable. Front pitch of roof has parapeted gables. Satellite dish and aerial now mounted on roof.

Front wall is smooth ashlar granite over a projecting base course; chamfered and channelled stepped quoins to front face. Projecting string course across first floor at window cill level. Granite parapet above eaves course, with overhanging copings (a continuation of the gable copings) and with three recessed sandstone panels each punched with seven open roundels. Parapet rests on bracketed sandstone cornice underlined with a moulded string course, also in finely dressed sandstone.

Main entrance door is at right on street facade. Comprises a pair of modern 10 panelled doors below a segmental headed transom light. The reveal has a pole-moulded edge and head with voussoirs stepped into the wall coursing and a projecting keyblock. Metal security grille to front of door. Wall markings for brass plaques, now removed, on both jambs.

To left of door is a set of three semicircular headed windows forming an arcade, and all sharing the same granite cill. Middle section of each jamb has a pole moulded reveal; head also pole moulded and painted and with projecting keyblock. Modern timber windows inserted with metal security grilles over. Above the ground floor openings is a modern fascia reading "Armaghdown Bar".
At first floor are three windows openings identical to, and in line with, those below. Timber framed metal-reinforced single-pane windows with semicircular lights above. To right, centred above entrance door, is a pair of windows openings of same design. Between the two sets of windows is a projecting sign.

The right gable appears to be cement-rendered random rubble granite. Small metal windows inserted towards rear on both floors to light toilets. Left gable is abutted by terrace; exposed section of rendered brick. The rear elevation is of random rubble masonry with a brick eaves course. It is abutted at middle by a two-storey warehouse (see below).

2. Warehouse

This two-storey/ single bay building abuts the rear wall of the front block and seems to have originally been a bonded warehouse. Pitched natural slate roof which runs into the rear pitch of the main block. Rendered brick chimney to each gable. Rainwater goods missing.

West elevation has walls of random granite rubble and are abutted by lower buildings belonging to no.19a Monaghan Street.

North gable not accessible.

East face may be wet dash rendered, but too heavily overgrown to be sure. This elevation has a large modern sliding door at north end and at least one sliding sash window to first floor (with security bars over). Towards south end of this elevation is a gabled first floor loading door. Again overgrowth precluded a full inspection.

Historical information

This site was formerly occupied by stores belonging to Newry Distillery. The present building first appears in the 1882 Valuation Revision book, and is described as an office and wine store. It was taken over by Duncan, Alderdice & Co in 1890 – they also had two bonded stores on the other side of no.19c Monaghan Street (still standing but with frontage rebuilt). The office first appears as a public house in the 1897 Valuation Revision.

Primary Sources:
1. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI – VAL 12B/15/1C, p.300; /1G, p.330;
2. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI - VAL 12B/22/18, p.393.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A two-storey/ two-bay ashlar granite building. The façade of this property is of very high quality workmanship and is well proportioned and detailed.