31 Banbridge Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

An angled three-storey three-bay terraced commercial premises, built 1897 and located to the corner of Church Street and Banbridge Road in Dromore town centre. Irregular plan, angled to northwest corner.

Flat roof with tall yellow-brick chimneystacks having chamfered shaft, corbelled cap and clay pots. Parapet is surmounted by decorative iron railings punctuated by round-headed rendered piers. Plastic rainwater goods. Walling is painted smooth render on a chamfered plinth with raised quoins; bracketed eaves cornice with dog-tooth frieze; dog-tooth string course to impost level at first and ground floor. Windows are 1/1 timber-framed sash with horns in stop-end chamfered reveals with ovolo moulded projecting sills; those to first and ground floor have moulded heads to impost level with keyblock.

The principal elevation faces west; angled bay to left faces northwest. Four windows wide to upper floors (that to left is more widely spaced). Ground floor has square-headed carriage-arch entry at right with moulded cornice; modern fascia board reads “DROMORE UPHOLSTERY”. To left is a raised-and-pointed six-panel timber door with transom light flanked by window to either side; door in chamfered reveal accessed by a single stone step; moulded head to impost level with keyblock. To ground floor left is a raised-and-pointed six-panelled timber door with transom light in a chamfered reveal having moulded head to impost level and keyblock.

The northeast elevation is abutted by adjoining building.

The east elevation is cement rendered and has four timber casement windows to first and ground floor. To ground floor left is the carriage-arch entry. Ground floor right was not viewed; enclosed by rear yard. Abutted at right to lower floors by return to neighbouring building.

The south elevation is abutted by adjoining building.

Setting

Situated to the southeast side of the junction of Church Street and Banbridge Road in Dromore town centre, directly opposite Cathedral Church of Christ the Redeemer (HB17/15/022A) and adjacent to the Rectory (HB17/15/022B). Prominently sited, the building connects two mid to late-nineteenth century terraces. The carriage-arch leads to a communal rear entry with yard enclosed by a high rendered wall and accessed via a modern timber-sheeted door.

Roof: Not visible
Walling: render
Windows: Timber
RWG: uPVC

Historical information

Thirty one Banbridge Road, dating from 1897, and buildings to the north and south of it are first shown on the third edition OS map of 1903. The small parcel of land on which the house and its neighbours are constructed was previously laid out as a garden and is shown as such on the second edition of 1859. Local doctor SB Carlisle appears to have been the builder of the house, having purchased a lease from John Hamilton, and the house, stables and yard enter valuation records in 1897 at a valuation of £26. Samuel Burns Carlisle was an LRCPSI (Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ireland) and a General Practitioner. At the time of the 1901 census he was married with three young sons and the family kept a live-in general domestic servant. The census designated the twelve-room building as First Class. By 1911, Carlisle’s family had grown to five boys and the family now kept a groom as well as a general domestic. The house had seven outbuildings including a stable, coach house, harness room, cow house and dairy. The building was revalued at £32 in the First General Revaluation of the early 1930s and a valuer’s plan drawing shows that the building had an asphalt roof and that there was a single-storey brick extension to the rear with a slate roof and detached double-height outbuildings of brick and slate.

In the 1930s the accommodation comprised five bedrooms, two receptions, a bathroom and WC, kitchen and pantry, surgery and waiting room. The house had mains water, a bathroom and electric light but was felt by the valuer to be ‘rather badly planned being ‘wedge’ shaped ‘.

Samuel Carlisle died on 17 December 1927 and his property passed to Ellen Carlisle, his widow. In 1949 the house was taken over by the eldest son Henry Carlisle but his second son, also named Samuel Burns Carlisle, is said to have practised as a GP at the premises. (Doloughan)

The house is not currently occupied.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/3/21/3 – Third Edition Ordnance Survey map 1903
2. PRONI OS/6/3/21/4 – Fourth Edition Ordnance Survey map 1919-20
3. PRONI VAL/12/B/16/10A –C Annual Revisions 1864-1898
4. PRONI VAL/12/B/16/11A –C – Annual Revisions 1899-1930
5. PRONI Will of Samuel Carlisle died 17th December 1927
6. 1901 census online
7. 1911 census online

Secondary Sources

1. Doloughan, A “Cowan Heron Hospital – A Gift to the People of Dromore” Dromore and District Local Historical Group Journal Volume 1 -1991

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A prominently sited three-storey three-bay terraced commercial premises, built 1897 on an irregular plan. Primarily of interest due to its prominent siting and angled facade, the building is one of the surviving examples of late-nineteenth century building in the town centre. Although of robust character and significant in the locale, it is not among the best examples of the type.