18 A&B Upper Water Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Three storey rendered building, left of a terrace of three, set in a terrace on west side of Abbey Way (previously known as Upper Water Street - and again known as such).

Pitched natural slate roof, with a cement rendered chimney and raised skew to left gable and a red brick chimney (shared with no. 20) to right gable. Walls are painted lined render, with raised render eaves course. The building is five windows wide to upper floors, the left two belonging are one property (18A), the right three are the other property (18B).

No 18A: At ground floor is a modern rendered shop front with door to right and two square windows to left, with long transom over all three. There are two windows to each floor above, all are modern with top hung casements set within exposed boxes. Those to second floor are diminished in height.

Rear elevation is abutted by a two storey return and shares the alley with no.18B. Upper floors are obscured. Rear return is two storey with pitched roof and is painted cement render with modern windows.

No 18B: To ground floor is a modern shop front with a mosaic of race horses filling wall to right of door. Mosaic has a three panelled transom over. Above is a plastic fascia advertising the occupant. To left is doorway. There are three windows to each upper floor, all are 1/1 PVC with top hung casements. Those to second floor are diminished in height. All have granite cills.

Rear elevation is abutted to right by a two storey return. To left of return is an alley opening (shared with 18B) leading to street. Rear elevation is smooth rendered. At first floor it has a 6/3 sliding sash in a slate hung projection over alley. At second floor is a 6/6 sliding sash window, with bottom sash missing and boarded up from within. To third floor is a 3/3 sliding sash window. Rest of elevation to left is not visible. Rear return is two storey, random rubble with mostly modern windows to first and second floor.

Historical information

Shown on 1835 OS map and described as two houses (valued at £18 and £22) in 1838 valuation. Both described as three and a half storeys in 1863 valuation and seemingly erected as a block with nos 20 & 22. Shop seemingly added c.1912.

Primary Sources:

1.OS map 1835 edition, PRONI OS 9/15/1/1
2.Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI VAL 1B/389, p.50 (1838 valuation);
3.Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI VAL 2B/3/69G, p.47 (1863 valuation);
4.Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI VAL 12B/22/16A, p.28 (1912 valuation).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Three storey rendered building, left of a terrace of three. Modern alterations have compromised its status and it is not of special architectural or historic interest.

General comments

This building originally had the address 18 A&B Abbey Way. Following various realignments etc in the area, the street name was changed to Upper Water Street, hence the change of address.