2 Bannview Terrace

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A two-storey four-bay mid-terrace house (formerly two dwellings) built c1860. Rectangular plan form. Located directly on Dunbar Street northwest of the centre of Gilford Village.

Pitched natural slate roof with clay ridge tiles; replacement chimney; replacement uPVC rainwater goods. Roof slightly raised. Brick walling laid to stretcher bond with headers to every 6th course; raised cement pointing; cement plinth. 6/6 double glazed timber sliding sash windows; with horns; painted masonry cill; 1 and ½ brick flat arches. Replacement door of no interest.

The principal elevation faces south west and is asymmetrically arranged. The door is located right of centre, single window to the right; two windows left; four first floor windows directly over. The far right ground floor window was previously a door prior to alteration.

The left gable is abutted by adjoining building HB17/01/027E.

The rear elevation is asymmetrically arranged. Completely refurbished with modern windows. Of no interest.

The right gable is abutted by adjoining building HB17/01/027A.

Setting:

Forming part of a terrace which lines the north side of the arterial route into the village from the north. Opposite the terrace is a gate lodge HB17/01/029, beyond which lies a 20th century housing estate. Hard landscape yard to the rear beyond which are further 20th century housing.

Roofing: Replacement natural slate
Walling: Brick
Windows: Timber
RWG: uPVC

Historical information

The current house, a former spirit grocer’s, is one of a terrace of seven houses built c1860, which has in recent years been converted into a terrace of four. The terrace was built by a developer at a time when the population of Gilford was expanding rapidly as a result of the successful growth of the Dunbar McMaster spinning concern. By the late nineteenth century Dunbar McMaster had branches in the USA, London, Dublin and Manchester and their exports were world-wide. (Industries of the North)

The terrace is not shown on the second edition OS map of 1858 but the seven houses are listed in Griffith’s Valuation of 1864, giving a construction date of c1860. The houses were the property of James Hall, the likely developer, who had leased the land from local landowner William Uprichard. The houses all have a yard and small garden but variations in the number of outbuildings give slightly different valuations. Dimensions given show that the houses were all 2½ stories in height, 4? yards in width and 8 yards in length. The terrace first appears on the third edition OS map of 1901-2, on the edge of the town.

Gilford town had begun an extremely rapid growth in population following the opening of the Dunbar McMaster spinning mill in the late 1830s. Between 1841 and 1851 the population more than quadrupled, from 643 to 2,814. By 1870 the mill was employing over 2,000 workers and built 200 houses between 1836 and 1862. (Logan) The current houses were not built by Dunbar McMaster & Co but nevertheless formed part of the town’s expansion in the wake of the success of the linen industry and over the years were often inhabited by mill workers.

The current house was formerly two separate dwellings. The first was valued at £6, and was said to be ‘better finished’ than its neighbour, although it had no outbuildings. The house was designated first class in Griffith’s Valuation and in a ‘medium’ state of repair. The rent was £8 annually. In 1864 the tenant was Martha Brown and by 1866 James Burns. Subsequent tenants were James Campbell (1878), Paul Scandrett (1893) and John Henderson (1900). In 1901 the present house and its neighbour at number one were converted into a single premises, a spirit grocer’s valued at £14, the proprietor of which was Edward Smith. He is listed in the 1901 census as a publican living at the house with his wife and a domestic servant. The two houses comprised ten rooms in all and the two separate entrance doors were retained at this stage, giving 6 windows on the front facade. The size of the house meant that it was the only dwelling in the terrace designated first class by the census. Edward had died by the time of the 1911 census and his widow Mary was running the spirit grocers and also providing a home for her 12 year old nephew. She continued to retain a domestic servant. The house remained in the Smith family until at least 1929.

The neighbouring house was valued at £6.10s, and had two outbuildings. The house was designated first class in Griffith’s Valuation and in a ‘medium’ state of repair. The rent was 3s per week. In 1864 the tenant was Joseph McGaffin and by 1866 Russell Simpson. Subsequent tenants were David Bright (1878) and Martha Thompson (1893). The 1901 census records that Martha, a widow of 75, was living in the house with her widowed daughter Mary Muldrew, a linen thread worker at the mill, and two further unmarried daughters one of whom was also a linen thread worker and another who was a dressmaker. Mary Muldrew’s three children also lived at the house, the oldest was a mercantile clerk at the thread mill and his 18 year old brother was a shopkeeper. By 1911, Mary Muldrew was the head of the household and lived with her two sisters, Martha a yarn reeler and Eliza the dressmaker. Her two sons had now left the house but her daughter, now 24, also worked as a dressmaker. Mary Muldrew remained in the house until 1923 when it was taken over by Hugh Creilly.

The two houses were converted into a single dwelling c1980 and remain in domestic use.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/3/26/1 First Edition OS Map 1834
2. PRONI OS/6/3/26/2 Second Edition OS map 1858
3. PRONI OS/6/3/26/3 Third Edition OS Map 1901-2
4. PRONI OS/6/3/26/4 Fourth Edition OS Map 1920-21
5. PRONI VAL/2/B/3/48F Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64)
6. PRONI VAL/12/B/21/8A-F Annual Revisions (1866-1923)
7. PRONI VAL/12/B/21/3A-B Annual Revisions (1923-29)
8. PRONI VAL/12/F/4/12/2 Annual Revisions (1929-30)

Secondary Sources

1. “Industries of the North One Hundred Years Ago” Belfast: Friar’s Bush Press, 1986 (First published as ‘Industries of
Ireland, Part 1. Belfast and the Towns of the North’ in 1891)
2. Logan, R A “A Window on the Past, A History of Gilford County Down” Banbridge Chronicle, (n.d.)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A two-storey four-bay mid-terrace house (formerly two dwellings) erected c.1860. Largely modified c.1980. The general appearance and proportions have been retained although much of the detailing and character has been lost as a result of alteration. No internal historic fabric remaining and the rear elevation has been completely altered. It is clear that these houses have been rebuilt and that the façade is the only part that is in any way original. Although of some local significance on the main street, its interest has been compromised by comprehensive alterations.

General comments

Please note this record has been renumbered it was previously recorded as HB17/01/027 B

This record incorporates house numbers 2 & 3 and is now known as 2 Bannview Terrace.