Former Coal Shed

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A two-storey building cut into the slope such that it can also be entered at first floor level from Chapel Street, with which it is aligned.

Gabled roof, and walls of granite rubble brought to courses. Has undergone extensive refurbishment in the recent past. The eaves and gables have been raised approx. 0.6m and the roof tiled, with skylight inserted on the Chapel St slope.

The main façade faces south into the former gasworks yard. It has four large windows and two doors at ground floor level, and eight two-paned fixed windows at first floor level; their surrounds are now rendered with cement. Comparison with photographs taken in the 1980s shows all these windows and doors to be new insertions.

The left (north-facing) gable has, at ground floor, a large semicircular-headed brick-trimmed opening which contains a modern four-pane window. To its left is a modern door. At first floor are two original window openings, now infilled. Both have brick jambs, semicircular heads (also in brick, but with granite keystones), and granite cills. Embedded in the apex of the gable is a dressed granite bearing the initials 'NTC' and '1891' [=Newry Town Commissioners].

An original door opening to Chapel Street has been infilled, and three new doors inserted

The first floor of the right gable is identical to the left gable, but is otherwise blank.

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.

As noted above, this building bears the date 1891 and the initials of Newry Town Commissioners. Erected as a coal shed, it stands on the site of a terrace of houses demolished to make way for it. It first appears in the valuation revision book in 1892, being described as a 'new shed' measuring 33ft x 15ft x 18ft.

Primary Sources:

1.Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI VAL 12B/22/14L, pp.425, 461.
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

A two-storey building cut into the slope of granite rubble brought to courses. The refurbishment has resulted in the loss of most of the building’s original character.