64-66 Scotch Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two storey terrace block containing two plain houses of probable pre 1834 construction but now with modern window frames and rear extensions. The houses are set within the terrace on the N side of Scotch Street, to the NE of Downpatrick town centre.

No.64
No.64 is to the W end and is larger than its neighbour. The front (S) façade is asymmetrical. To the right of centre on the ground floor is a modern partly glazed door. To the left is a large flat arch carriage entrance with timber sheeted double door (this entrance actually belongs to No.62). To the right of the doorway is a window with modern frame. To the first floor are three similar windows. The front façade is finished in lined render and painted.

The rear elevation could only be seen from a distance. To the ground floor left there appears to be a large flat roofed extension. To the first floor directly above this (to rear façade of main house) are two windows of varying size. That to left has a modern frame, that to left is set at a slightly lower level and has a sash frame. To the right side of the elevation is a full height lean-to with the rear end of the carriage entrance taking up all of the ground floor. The rear elevation appears to be entirely finished in rough cast and partly painted.

The gabled roof is slated to the rear and has asbestos tiles to front. Single brick chimney stack.

No.66
To the left of the ground floor on front façade is a modern partly glazed door with window to right and doorway (to entry) to far right. To the first floor are two windows as ground floor. The front façade is rendered and painted.

The rear elevation is almost completely covered by a large modern two storey extension, with flat roof and what appears to be a rough cast finish.

The roof appears to be completely covered in an a modern artificial tile. Velux window to front and rear. Single brick chimney stack.

Historical information

This portion of Scotch Street, which was originally known as ‘Barrack Street’, had been developed prior to c.1720. This particular stretch of terrace may not have been built at that date but may date from the late 1700s or early 1800s. Internal evidence (i.e. the one time presence of attic gable windows) suggests that No.64, at least, was built prior to the two storey portion of No.62, which itself may date from c.1840. Both No.64 and 66 are probably same dwellings marked on this site on the valuation plan of 1838 and recorded as the homes of one John Ladley and one George Breen.

When first surveyed in February 1975 both dwellings still retained Georgian paned sash windows, but have witnessed much modernisation in subsequent years.

References- Primary sources
1 Down County Museum ‘A plan of Downpatrick’ (c.1708)
2 PRONI D.477A ‘A survey of the town of Downpatrick in the county of Down and province of Ulster in Ireland’ by James Maguire (c.1708)
3 British Library, Addit. MS 9750, ff.71b-72 ‘A plan of the town of Downpatrick (c.1720)
4 British Library, Addit. MS 21, 131, f.90 ‘A plan of the town of Downpatrick 1729’
5 Walter Harris, ‘The ancient and present state of the County of Down’ (Dublin 1744)
6 PRONI OS/6/3/37/1 OS map, Down sh 37, 1834
7 Ordnance Survey memoirs of Co Down (IV), ed Angélique Day and Patrick McWilliams (QUB 1992), pp.38-61 [Dec. 1836]
8 PRONI VAL/1B/378 First valuation, Down, c.1838 [*Unfortunately this valuation does not supply either dimensions of buildings within Downpatrick or any indication of their age / condition; it merely gives a list of the occupants names and the rateable value of each property.]
9 PRONI VAL/1D/3/7 First valuation town plan of Downpatrick, c.1838
10 PRONI OS/8/9/1/1-24 OS town plans of Downpatrick, 1859
11 PRONI Second valuation, Down, 1863 (in print). [The map to accompany this valuation is missing.]
12 PRONI VAL/12E/120/1 Revaluation manuscript books, Downpatrick, 1864-1901
13 PRONI VAL/12E/120/1/1-24 Revaluation town plans of Downpatrick, 1864-1901 [12 sheets missing]
14 PRONI OS/8/9/2/1-3 OS town plans of Downpatrick, 1901
15 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

Two storey terrace block containing two plain houses of probable pre 1834 construction, but now with modern window frames, doors and rear extensions.