57 Upper Water Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two and half storey shop set in a terrace on east side of Abbey Way now Upper Water Street.

Roof is artificial slate and steeply pitched with two cast iron skylights to front pitch. There are no chimneys and rainwater goods are plastic.

Walls are painted smooth render. At ground floor left is a timber doorway leading to rear yard, remainder of ground floor is shop front. Shop front consists of a pair of timber storm doors flanked by shop windows on either side. Doors lead into small recessed hall with glazed cheeks and glazed and panelled door into shop. Shop windows have timber cills and rendered stall risers. On either side of shop windows and between windows and central doors timber pilasters rise from granite blocks at ground level. Pilasters support a timber fascia, which has a moulded timber cornice. Fascia is painted with the occupant's name. At first floor are four equally spaced 1/1 sliding sash windows, each with horns and a moulded render architrave. There is a projecting internally lit sign at this level attached to centre of wall. A second fascia sign in plastic obscures the heads of the two centre windows.

Rear elevation: access denied.

Historical information

Shown on 1835 OS map and described in 1838 valuation as a house valued at £22. Described as two and a quarter storeys high in 1863 valuation. Had become a licensed house by the early 1900s.

Primary Sources:
1. OS map 1835 edition, PRONI- OS 9/15/1/1
2. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI VAL 1B/389, p.110 (1838 valuation book);
3. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI VAL 2B/3/69J, p.194 (1863 valuation book);
4. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI VAL 12B/22/16A, p36 (1899 valuation book).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Two and half storey shop set in a terrace retaining some original character and an attractive shop front. Conservation Area protection is more appropriate in this case.

General comments

This building originally had the address 8-10 Abbey Way. Following various realignments etc in the area, the street name was changed to Upper Water Street, hence the change of address.