Office Building

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two-storey red brick building fronting directly on to Kilmorey Street. Steeply pitched hipped roof of natural slate with two bands of fish scale slates. A brick dormer rises from eaves level at centre of on street façade. Half-round metal gutters.

A more recent one storey red brick block projects at front. It has a flat roof and coped parapet, raised at centre front. Its elevation to street incorporates a shop front, now protected by a modern metal roller shutter. The first floor of the main block (which rises behind) has three semicircular headed window openings, below which is a moulded sandstone cill course and above which is a moulded ogee sandstone cornice. A line of black brick runs across in line with the springs to the window heads. Their jambs are chamfered and the heads are of finely-dressed and painted sandstone. Modern 1/1 top hung replacement windows have been inserted. The space between the top of the window frame and arch intrados is infilled (probably an original feature). The dormer gable contains a recessed panel on which is a cartouche with datestone (?1878). The head of this panel is also in dressed and painted sandstone. The gable of the dormer is parapeted (with dressed sandstone coping and knee stones), and is surmounted by a large crocketted stone finial.

The left elevation has a course of black brick at ground and at first floor, both at the spring level of the openings (the latter course is a continuation from the front). Below the cill course is a band of red and white bricks. At centre is a blind door panel set within a semicircular sandstone headed recess. Directly above is a single window opening identical to those at front. Unlike the latter, it retains its original two-pane (vertically divided) timber framing with quatrefoil motif over. A small lean-to store abuts at right.

The right gable has similar decorative brick coursing to that at left. At ground floor is a four-panel painted timber door, in an opening identical to that at left. Above is a modern 1/1 window in an original opening as left.

The back wall is abutted by a two-storey return across its full width. It has a hipped natural slate roof, with exposed rafter ends and half round metal rainwater goods. A small cement rendered chimney rises from the right pitch (as viewed from the rear). The walls are also cement rendered. On the back wall of this section are two modern three-paned windows and door (at right) on ground floor. Directly above this door is a small 2/2 sliding sash window. The left cheek (ie south facing) has two modern three-paned windows to ground floor, all with metal security grilles. There is a 1/1 top hung window at first floor, set in an opening identical to those on the main block. The right cheek is blank.

On either side of the shop front are two bricked up openings, each flanked by a pair of tall rendered gate piers. These have oversailing pyramidal copings surmounted by gabled finials.

Historical information

Newry gasworks was established in 1822, the second in the province after Belfast. Initially a private company, it was acquired by the Newry Town Commissioners in 1879. The works were gradually extended, notably north-west onto the site of the bridewell (formerly the custom house). Coal-gas manufacture ceased in 1968. Thereafter, liquid propane gas was imported, mixed with air, and distributed. All production ceased in 1987 and most of the site was demolished in the same year. This office block first appears in the valuation revision book entry dated 1873, being erected on the site of a coal shed.

Primary Sources:

1.Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI VAL 12B/22/14E, p.370.
2. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI VAL 12E/125/1/23.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Two-storey red brick building.This building has the form and detailing of the Venetian Gothic style which was made popular by John Ruskin in mid to late19c. However, it has been altered to such an extent that listing is not merited.