Queen Street House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Three and a half storey asymmetric three-bay town house in late Georgian classical style with slate-hung gable and fanlit door on west side of street . Dominic Street was formerly known as Queen Street, after which the house takes its name.

Pitched natural slate roof with two small cast-iron skylights to front and rear façades, and half round metal rainwater goods. Smooth rendered chimneys. Plain overhanging copings to each gable.

The façade is lined render with V jointed stepped decorative quoins. Projecting eaves course and string course at first floor window cill level. Central entrance, approached by two granite steps directly from street, comprises a reproduction six-panel stained timber door with cilled sidelights, V-channel jambs and a semi-elliptical wrought-iron fanlight with rendered keystoned arch above. All windows are 6/6 painted timber sliding sashes (all with horns, except ground floor left which has no horns). On ground floor single window on each side of door. Three windows on first floor (with moulded architraves) and second floor; windows on right at first floor and second floor are in line with that on ground floor right. Windows to centre left on first floor and second floor are not in line with openings below on ground floor.

Left gable abutted by two storey building (now converted to a nursery school); slate hung above roof of the latter. One section of slate is set diagonally to form a decorative diamond pattern. The right gable is abutted by a terrace to second floor level, with smooth cement rendered walls above. This wall is pierced with a 6/6 window at second floor level and two small 6/6 windows at attic level (all sliding sashes).

The rear wall is abutted at middle by a two-storey return. Most windows are modern replacements (mostly 1/1 to upper floors, stained timber 6/6 to ground floor). The return has a pitched natural slate roof. One original 2/2 window to first floor return, and new patio doors to ground floor. West end of upper floor of this return a conservatory, with decorative metal footbridge across to garden which rises steeply from rear of house.

Historical information

Two dwellings are noted at this location in the c.1840 Valuation Book, their dimensions being 15’6” x 24’ x 16’6” and 22’ x 32’ x 34’. Their ground plan dimensions broadly correspond with those of the 1863: 14’3” x 23’3” x 2 storey (+ attic), and 22’6” x 33’ x 3 storeys (+ attic) respectively. However, the present building appears (both externally and internally) to be a single build and measures 38’9” long by c.32’6” deep. It would therefore appear to be of later date. From 1875 onwards, the Valuation Revision books value these buildings as a single property under the same owner. It is highly likely, therefore, that the present structure dates to the mid 1870s; this would also accord with the style of the internal fittings.

Sources:
VAL 1B/246A, p.39;
VAL 1B/ 246B, p.20;
VAL 2B/2/39C, p.133;
VAL 12B/15/1A, p.135a.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
I. Quality and survival of Interior

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Three and a half storey asymmetric three-bay town house in late Georgian classical style with slate-hung gable and fanlit door. One of the most imposing buildings on Dominic Street, it retains much of its original domestic character in both form and detailing.