34a-b Downpatrick Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Relatively small two storey terrace block, formerly a dwelling of possible pre 1834 origin, but now split into two shops with modern shop fronts. The block is set on the NE side of Downpatrick Street.

The front façade faces roughly SW. To the left is No.34a which consists of a modern shop front with multi-pane glazing, with a single window to the first floor with modern frame. There is a traditional style signboard above the shop front. The front façade of.No.34b is largely identical to its neighbour, but with upper level window slightly further to the right, bigger signboard, plastic internally illuminated projecting sign and projecting light fittings.

The front façade is rendered and painted. Quoins.

Little could be seen of the rear façade of the block, except a first floor window to No.34a. Façade itself appears to be mainly rendered and painted. One suspects there have been significant changes to the rear with the splitting of the block into two properties.

The gabled roof is covered in natural slate to the front and asbestos and natural slate to the rear. There is a small cast iron skylight to the rear (to No.34a). Rendered chimney stack to NW, brick stack to SE. PVC rw goods.

Historical information

Buildings are shown on this site on the OS map of 1834, which the contemporary valuation returns indicate were two storey. Thus the block we see today may be pre 1834, but if so, was probably built shortly before this as little existed in Crossgar prior to 1810 apart from the original RC church and (so accounts suggest), only around ten houses.

The block itself originally contained a single dwelling, which the c.1863 valuation returns tell us was then occupied by a John Beatty. The property appears to have remained in its 19th century form until c.1970, when part of it was converted to a shop. In the 1990s another shop unit was inserted.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI OS/6/3/30/1 OS map, 1834, Down 30
2 PRONI VAL/1B/330 1st valuation, Kilmore, 1835
3 PRONI VAL/1D/3/1 Valuation town plan of Crossgar, c.1838
4 PRONI VAL/2D/3/14 Valuation town plan of Crossgar, 1859
5 PRONI 2nd (‘Griffith’s) valuation, Kilmore, 1863
6 PRONI OS/6/3/30/3 OS map, 1901, Down 30
7 PRONI OS/6/3/30/4 OS map, 1920, Down 30

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Relatively small two storey terrace block, formerly a dwelling of possible pre 1834 origin, but now split into two shops with modern shop fronts.