47 Merchants Quay

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A three-storey warehouse set in a terrace fronting Merchant's Quay.

Description at 08.02.2006. As 28.03.2000, except that the hoisting beam and pulleys on the front elevation have been removed.

Description at 28.03.2000. Pitched natural slate roof at front, rendered chimney on left gable, and plastic rainwater goods. Walls are of painted cement render, lined on upper floors. Stepped quoins, also rendered, partially survive on second floor.

At left of ground floor facade is a modern rectangular three-paned window opening, with metal security grille. To its right is a fixed one-paned window, also modern, opening with metal grill over. Between these two windows a stone projects above (function unknown). To right of right window is a t+g door, and at extreme right is a semi-elliptical headed coach arch through to rear yard. Two t+g doors are set within vee-jointed ashlar jambs which have wheel guards at base and ashlar voussoirs above. The first and second floors have four openings in line with one another. With exception of second opening from left on second floor, all contain fixed one-paned windows with security grilles over; they also have granite jambs and lintels, but no cills. The second opening from left on first floor has a t+g sheeted loading door; door on second floor is now infilled and brought flush with wall surface. Above the latter is a projecting hoisting beam with two pulley blocks (no gablet over). Above the window and door opening at left on first floor is a recessed rectangular plaque which reads: "James McMahon 1843". To the right of this plaque are the remains of a fascia board reading "F.V. Harty & Co Ltd Solid Fuel Importers".

Both gables are abutted by other buildings; exposed sections cement rendered.

The walls of the rear elevation are of random granite rubble. On ground floor at left is coach arch, across which there is a modern metal gate. To its right are two 3/3 sliding sash windows, with exposed boxes, metal bars (also brick relieving arch to right window). There are three shuttered window openings on each of the upper floors, in line with one another and with granite cills and keystoned lintels. A brick chimney rises up the wall from ground floor immediately right of the middle window and breaks the eaves to terminate in concrete blockwork.

Along the random granite rubble wall at rear is a shallow semi-elliptical arch, some 2m high and now infilled with coursed rubble. Its quoins and voussoirs are of roughly dressed granite blocks; the latter are splayed and rise from projecting spring stones.

Historical information

The First Valuation book notes James McMahon as occupying a house, stores and yard at this location in 1838. The dimensions given for the premises differ from those of the building which now exists, indicating that the 1843 datestone relates to a rebuild, not a refurbishment. This is confirmed by the statistics given in the Second Valuation of 1863, in which it is also cited as a ‘store’.

McMahon was a ship owner and shipping agent who owned and chartered emigrant ships which plied between Warrenpoint and North America during the 1840s’ famine.

A photograph dated c.1950 shows the building much as it is today, but with a chimney on its right gable.

Primary Sources:

1. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI – VAL 1B/246A, p.75.
2. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI - VAL 2B/2/39C, p.78.

Secondary Sources:

1. Confederation of Community Groups, Newry District (1997), ‘Exploring living memory: Part 4- Newry, the Mournes and South Armagh’, p.30 and p.31 (photograph).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Z. Rarity
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A three-storey warehouse, this is a robust commercial building characteristic of its time and the heyday of maritime trade from Newry. It is now the least altered of all the canalside warehouses which once dominated Merchant’s Quay, with its characteristic in-line loading doors , and use of local building materials.