16 Main Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Mid-terrace two-storey over basement rendered early nineteenth century former house, with integral carriage arch. Rectangular on plan facing west on the east side of Main Street Hillsborough with two-storey flat-roofed return. Extensively renovated c.2000 for commercial use with rear site developed for residential development.

Pitched natural slate roof with black clay ridge tiles and three brick chimneystacks with clay and terracotta pots, those to either end shared with adjoining properties. Cast-iron rainwater goods. Painted ruled and lined rendered walling with rusticated render quoins to either end. Square-headed window openings with replacement 6/6 timber sash windows and painted masonry sills.

Front elevation is four windows wide with a three-centred carriage arch to the northernmost bay. To the right of the carriage arch is a symmetrically arranged pair of shop display windows each having replacement tripartite fixed-pane arched lights and a central round-headed door opening with deep moulded render surround and replacement timber panelled door with bipartite overlight. Door opens onto two replacement stone steps to the street.

North side elevation abutted by No. 14 (HB19/05/008B) with timber sheeted soffit to the carriage arch and modern steel gate.

Rear elevation is abutted by flat-roofed two-storey rear return (possibly incorporating original return) with the carriage arch bay recessed behind the rear elevation. Replacement timber sash windows to rear elevation and return with replacment timber panelled doors and a canted bay to the re-entrant angle.

Setting:
Forming part of a terrace of houses lining the west side of Main Street with the carriage arch leading to a pair of modern houses 6-7 Church Lane.

Roof Natural slate
RWG Cast-iron
Walling Painted ruled and lined
Windows Replacement timber sash windows

Historical information

No. 16 Main Street was built between c. 1800 and 1833 as it appears on the first Ordnance Survey map (1833) on the site of an old wasteground which was depicted on a c.1800 map of Hillsborough. It was therefore one of the later houses to be constructed on Main Street. The Ordnance Survey map and contemporary Townland Valuation map shows No. 16 as a rectangular building situated half way up the terrace on the east side of Main Street; a small square out office, since demolished, is located at the rear of the yard. The Townland Valuation recorded the occupant in the 1830s as a Mr. Arthur Scandrett and valued the house and its office at £10. 10s.

In 1861 the Marquis of Downshire let the house to a Mr. Thomas Ingram at rent of £19 per annum. The house is described as a 1B+ class dwelling measuring 10 yds by 7 yds and two-storeys high, with a basement level; at that time the house and its offices were valued at £16 10s. In 1865 a Mr. George Ingram came into possession of the house after the death of his father in the same year. Thomas Ingrams’ will tells us that he was a Boot and Shoe maker and that his sons George and James Ingram were also shoe makers by profession (PRONI Wills Catalogue – 09/02/1865). Between 1864 and 1879 the house was converted into a post office in which George Ingram worked as postmaster. George Ingram died in 1885 leaving effects of £365 15s. to his widow Margaret Ingram. In 1896 the post office was relocated to No. 19 Main Street (HB 19/05/022) when a Mr. Henry Bell replaced Margaret Ingram as occupant of No. 16.

The 1901 census records that Henry Bell (28), a Presbyterian Merchant, lived in No. 16 Main Street with his widowed mother Anne Bell (59). The building return recorded the house as a 1st class dwelling which consisted of 11 rooms and possessed four out offices including a stable. In 1911 Henry Bell was working as a ‘Bread Server’ and lived at No. 16 with his wife Mary (33) and young son; at that time the out office at the rear of the house was being used as a stable and storeroom. Bell occupied the house until 1909; the house was occupied by a Mr. Frederick K. Reynolds in 1915 who resided in the house until the end of the Annual Revisions in 1930.

Walker tells us that Nos. 16 to 20 Main Street did not appear on an 1810 plan of Hillsborough and were therefore amongst the last houses to be built on Main Street (Walker). In 1974 the house was used as an Antiques shop. Brett described the building as a ‘two-storey four-bay stucco house, round headed doorcase, Georgian glazed’ but noted that its facade had been recently damaged by a runaway lorry; the damage to the front of the house has since been repaired (Brett, p. 20). The house was listed in 1976 and was extensively renovated in 1985, although few original features now remain within the interior. In 2001 the building was used as a solicitor’s office, but in 2002 it was converted into a hair and beauty salon. An apartment extension was added to a rear return of the house in 2002, and a separate dwelling has been built at the rear of the yard (NIEA File).

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI D671/M/8/25 – Hillsborough Map c.1800
2. PRONI D671/M/8/57/1 – Hillsborough Illustrated Map 1803
3. PRONI VAL/1/B/344 A-B – Townland Valuations 1834
4. PRONI VAL/1/D/3/5 – Town Plan 1834
5. PRONI OS/6/3/14/1 – First Edition OS Map 1834
6. PRONI OS/6/3/14/2 – Second Edition OS Map 1858
7. PRONI OS/6/3/14/3 – Third Edition OS Map 1902-1903
8. PRONI OS/6/3/14/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1919-1920
9. PRONI VAL/2/B/3/45A-C – Griffith’s Valuation 1861
10. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/14A – Annual Revisions 1864-1879
11. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/14B – Annual Revisions 1880-1889
12. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/14C – Annual Revisions 1890-1908
13. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/14D – Annual Revisions 1909-1928
14. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/14E – Annual Revisions 1928-1930
15. PRONI Wills Catalogue – 1865

Secondary Sources

1. Brett, C. E. B., ‘Historic buildings, groups of buildings, areas of architectural importance in the towns and villages of Mid
Down: Hillsborough, Dromore, Dromara, Ballynahinch, the Spa, Drumaness and Saintfield’ Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1974.
2. Walker, S., ‘Hillsborough: An illustrated history and companion’ Belfast: Cottage Publications, 1994).
3. NIEA File – HB19/05/009.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Mid-terrace two-storey over basement rendered early nineteenth century former house with integral carriage arch. Located on the east side of an historic terrace at Main Street Hillsborough on a sloping site, adjacent to no. 18 Main St.(HB19.05.010). Externally the house retains some of its early 19th century features, although the ground floor openings have been altered during 20th century. Despite the external changes and the removal of internal fabric the house retains its overall architectural and historic interest and is a significant building in Hillsborough.