73 Scotch Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Relatively small two storey late Victorian terrace house of perhaps c.1880 of relatively plain appearance with rendered front façade and simple mouldings to openings. The house sits on the S side of Scotch street, to the E of the town centre.

The asymmetrical front façade faces N. To the right on the ground floor is a timber panelled door with frieze, cornice and ‘pointed’ (slightly pediment-like) blocking course. To the left is a large elliptical arch headed window with moulded surround. The PVC window has an uncompromisingly modern design.. The sill has a modern wrought iron guard rail. To first floor are two flat arch window openings each with modern PVC frames, moulded surrounds and plain dripstone and label stops. The sills of these windows are integrated into a projecting string course. The lower section of the façade is rusticated while the upper area is plainly plastered.

The small portion of the upper section of the E gable shows above its adjoining neighbour. This area is blank. A similar area to the W gable has one small attic window. To the centre of the gable is a tall brick chimney which belongs to No. 71.

To the ground floor right side of the rear façade is a tall window opening with modern frame. Directly above at first floor is a similar window. To the left is a large, two storey, (but lower than the main house), gabled return. To the gable of this is a small lean-to return which has a plain door to the E face. The gable of the main return has a tall window to the right side. The E face has a large modern window to the left side of the ground floor while to the right is a plain door. The upper section is blank. The rear façade and return are rendered (with traces of paint).

The roof is covered with concrete ‘pan tiles’ Rendered chimney stack to E.

Historical information

This house is late Victorian and may date from c.1880. The current owner believes it was built for an official of the then Down District Lunatic Asylum (now Downshire Hospital).

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI VAL/12E/120/1 Revaluation manuscript books, Downpatrick, 1864-1901
2 PRONI VAL/12E/120/1/1-24 Revaluation town plans of Downpatrick, 1864-1901 [12 sheets missing]
3 PRONI OS/8/9/2/1-3 OS town plans of Downpatrick, 1901
4 PRONI VAL/12E/120/2/1-3 Revaluation town plans of Downpatrick, 1906-35

Secondary sources
1 Anthony M. Wilson, ‘Saint Patrick’s town’ (Belfast 1995)
2 R.H. Buchanan and Anthony Wilson, ‘Irish historic towns atlas no.8: Downpatrick’ (Royal Irish Academy 1996)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Relatively small two storey late Victorian terrace house of perhaps c.1880 of relatively plain appearance with rendered front façade and simple mouldings to openings. The roof is now covered in pantiles and most of the window frames are modern.