3 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 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 HB17/01/027G.

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

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

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, former housing for mill workers, 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 £6.10s, and had one outbuilding. The house was designated first class and in a ‘medium’ state of repair. The rent was 3s per week. In 1864 the tenant was William Kennedy and by 1866 Thomas Flatchen. Subsequent tenants were Jane Flatchen (1878), William Clayton (1893) and James McKee who had occupied the house by 1900. He was not present at the time of the 1901 census but his three daughters are listed, the older two were workers at the mill. The McKees were followed by Joseph McDowell (1903), Robert W Beattie (1906) and John Roberts (1911) who was present at the time of the census with his wife and one-year-old daughter. Roberts was a commercial clerk in Gilford Mill. By 1917 the tenant was William J McAlonen who was resident until at least 1929.

The neighbouring house was valued at £7.10s, and had one outbuilding. The house was designated first class and in a ‘medium’ state of repair. The rent was 4s per week and the house was described as ‘papered and finished’. In 1864 the tenant was Thomas McCullagh. Subsequent tenants were Archibald Penk (1878), Mrs Harland (1893) and John McCausland, who had occupied the house by 1900. At the time of the 1901 census he was living in the house with his wife and five children. The family appear to have travelled – John McCausland himself was born in South Africa and his wife and elder two children in Scotland. The younger three were born in England. John was a ‘Spooling Master’ and an older son was a ‘Thread Baller’ while another son worked as an apprentice printer. The McCauslands were followed by Henry McNeill (1901), James J Muldrew (1907), Henry McNeill (1908) and Thomas Cunningham (1909). Thomas Cunningham was a flax rougher and lived with his wife, six children and an elderly sister. The older children aged between 15 and 23 were also employed at the mill, the boys as flax machine boys and a roller boy and the eldest girl as a ‘yarn doffer’. The next tenant in 1913 was Frederick McConnell, followed by William J McAlonen (1914) who later lived at number four, Thomas Adamson (1917), Michael Lonergan (1924), Richard Greenaway (1925) William Scott (1926) Alexander Sefton (1930) and Mary Sefton (1934).

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 D & E

This record incorporates house numbers 4 & 5 and is now known as 3 Bannview Terrace.