Newry Reporter Office

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Description on 10.02.2006.
As on 06.04.2000 except for: Ground floor windows to Abbey Way - 3 of these are now hardwood stained and the remaining ground floor windows are also in the process of being changed to the same type. All have fixed iron vertical bars with a galvanised weld mesh grille to the outside. There is a replacement stained hardwood shopfront to Margaret Street. This has a new steel roller shutter and projecting shutter box contained in a timber surround.

Description on 06.04.2000.
Three storey rendered mid Georgian classical town house on corner of Margaret Street and Abbey Way. Principal façade is to Margaret Street with left elevation to Abbey Way.

Roof is natural slated, hipped, and shared roof with no 6 Margaret Street. A rendered chimney on left (Abbey Way) elevation rises from wall head between seventh and eighth opening from the left. Rainwater goods are metal (semicircular in section).

Wall to principal elevation is lined render with V-channelled, stepped quoins to left corner, moulded string course at second floor, and a projecting rendered eaves course. To ground floor is a modern shopfront with boxed roller shutter and modern backlit fascia. Timber entrance door to upper floors is at ground floor right. There are three 6/6 sliding sash windows to both upper floors. All have painted granite cills and second floor windows are diminished in height.

Wall to left elevation, on Abbey Way, is painted lined render, with stepped V-channelled quoins to the right corner and projecting eaves course. There are eight openings to each floor. There are seven segmentally headed 9 pane painted timber windows to ground floor. The second opening from left is a segmental coach arch with V-channelled granite piers, quoins and raised imposts. Arch is infilled with three leaf timber t+g door; each leaf with a small glazed windows. First floor has five 6/6 sliding sash windows and one 6/1 sliding sash and two 6/6 modern top-hung casements at left end. At second floor the first six windows from left are 6/6 modern top-hung casements, the remaining two (to right) are 6/6 sliding sash.

Right elevation is abutted by no. 6 Margaret Street.

Rear elevation: The rear wall of the Margaret Street elevation is abutted by a two storey return. Its walls are rendered. It is plain to rear and abuts the rear of the Abbey Way elevation to the left. Its right cheek has a door and two blocked up windows to ground floor and there are two blocked up windows to first floor.

Historical information

This area was laid out in the mid 18thC as a formal extension of the town. This building is shown on 1835 OS map valued as a house at £13 in 1838 valuation. Described as three and a half storeys high in 1863 valuation and as “one of the best situation and an immense business done here.” Undoubtedly built at same time as no 6 (HB16/28/087B) had become a licensed house by turn of the century.

Primary sources:

1. OS map 1835 editionPRONI- OS 9/15/1/1
2. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI - VAL 1B/389, p.48 (1838 valuation book).
3. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI - VAL 2B/3/69G, p.41 (1863 valuation book).
4. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI - VAL 12B/ 22/17A, p.18 (1899 valuation book).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

The building at no 4 Margaret Street comprises the left of a pair of three storey, two bay, classical town houses in an area of Newry which was laid out in the mid 18thC as a formal extension of the town. This building is shown on 1835 OS map and valued as a house at £13 in 1838 valuation. The building is a three storey rendered former town house with slated pitched and hipped roof over with an assortment of window styling in the openings. Some survival of six over six timber sliding sash but additional replacement of top hung windows in openings with recent shopfront to Margaret Street proper. The building had been used as offices for the Newry Reporter for some time and has been altered internally over the years, including the replacement of windows to the ground floor and alterations to the floor plans including removal of historic fabric. The building does not meet the threshold for protection by listing.