7 Kildare Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Three (+ attic) storey ashlar granite shop on a corner of Kildare Street and Abbey Way.

Roof is pyramidal, natural slate with a skylight to each front pitch. There are three chimneys. One to right of Kildare Street elevation, on to left of Abbey Way elevation and one rising from wall head at corner of building. The two side chimneys are rectangular in shape and of ashlar granite with stringcourses and swept granite copings. Front corner chimney consists of a pair of square stacks and detailed as others. Gutter is inset to eaves cornice.

Walls to both facades are ashlar granite with corbelled eaves course; V-channelled, banded rustication to ground floor on rendered base course, and smooth ashlar above. There is a projecting platband between first and second floors. Walls curve around corner in quarter circle. At ground floor the doorway is to the quarter corner. A pair of five panelled timber doors are set between two v-channelled piers with a depressed moulded granite head. Both the Kildare Street and Abbey Way facades are identical. Each has two windows to ground floor on rendered stall riser, both with modern t+g sheeted heads (concealing shutter boxes) and details as doorway. Between ground floor and first floor is a moulded stringcourse and cornice with a painted fascia. Cornice acts as a cill course for the first floor windows. At first floor both elevations are similar. There are two windows to each elevation. Each is round headed timber with 2/2 sliding sash horizontal divisions set within a semicircular headed opening with plain architrave. Second floor, two windows, both 1/1 sliding sash in line with those below with single granite lintels and cills.

Right gable (to Kildare Street) rises above adjoining building. Also in ashlar granite detailed as front wall. Left gable (to Abbey Way) rises above an adjoining building (which is part of same property). This elevation has an ashlar cornice, but below is rubble granite, not ashlar. Between bracketed eaves only first four sections are ashlar, rest are brick.

Historical information

A building is shown at this location on 1835 OS map. Described as a house at £26 in 1838 valuation. Recorded as three and a half storeys high in 1863 valuation. No significant change in valuation thereafter, which suggests it was not rebuilt after 1863. Whether it was rebuilt between 1835 and 1863 is uncertain, and whilst there is no readily available historical data to suggest that it does not pre-date 1835, its constructional style suggests a date of around 1860. It had become licensed premises by the turn of the century.

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 book);
3. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI - VAL 2B/22/16C, p.68 (1863 valuation book);
4. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI - VAL 12B/22/16A, p.75.5.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Three (+ attic) storey ashlar granite shop. A significant corner building at a principal entrance to the town originally built to a very high quality, with skilful external detailing which reflects a local building tradition. However, loss of historic fabric has compromised its status and Conservation Area protection is more appropriate in this case.