32 Main Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Mid terrace two-bay three-storey redbrick former house, built c.1780, on the summit of the east side of Main Street Hillsborough. Rectangular on plan facing west with an angled front elevation, integral carriage arch to the south bay and two-storey rendered return. Ground floor in commercial use.

Pitched natural slate roof with black clay ridge tiles and slightly angled. Redbrick chimneystack to the north gable with clay pots and replacement metal rainwater goods and timber fascia. Redbrick walling laid in English garden wall bond with cement pointing to front and rear, painted render walling to return. Square-headed window openings to brick flat-arches, painted masonry sills and replacement 6/6 timber sash windows with exposed sash boxes.

Front west elevation is three windows wide with central painted neo-classical doorcase. Square-headed door opening with replacement timber glazed door and rectangular overlight flanked by pair of flat-panelled pilasters supporting plain frieze and drip cornice over, supported on series of console brackets. Elliptical-headed carriage arch formed in redbrick with pair of vertically-sheeted timber doors. Above the carriage arch is a window opening with a further elliptical-headed brick relieving arch visible.

North side elevation abutted by adjoining building No.30 (HB19/05/013B) with the redbrick gable rising above the roof of the neighbouring house.

Rear redbrick elevation abutted by rendered two-storey gable-ended return. Above the rear carriage arch is a window opening with a further elliptical-headed brick arch visible above, suggesting an earlier double-height carriage arch. The return has 6/6 timber sash windows to the rear gable and 2/2 timber sash windows to the remainder. Multi-pane timber casement window to the south elevation of the return.

South side elevation abutted by adjoining building No.1 The Square (HB19/05/031A) with painted rubblestone and brick walling visible to the carriage arch.

Setting:
Terminating the terrace lining the east side of Main Street as it joins the east side of The Square.
Rear yard enclosed in rubble walling with original landscaped plot extending to boundary of Hillsborough Fort.

Roof Natural slate
RWG Replacement metal
Walling Redbrick
Windows Replacement timber sash

Historical information

No. 32 Main Street first appears on a map of Hillsborough, c.1800 where it is depicted as a small square building, with a long rear return or office, in the possession of a Mr. Johnson. The first Ordnance Survey map (1833) and contemporary Townland Valuation map shows the property as one long thin building extending from the corner of the Square to the back of the yard. The Townland Valuation records that in the 1830s a Mr. Joseph Smith occupied the house which was valued at £6. 14s.

The second edition Ordnance Survey map in 1858 depicts a much smaller building. Griffith’s Valuation (1861) describes the house as a 1B- class property consisting of two buildings; a three-storey building in front measuring five by eight yards, and the long building in the rear measuring eight by five yards. The valuer noted that at this time the house was occupied by a Sergeant of the South Down Militia, although he notes three occupants, a Mr. Gormit, Harman and Fergy. At this time the house was valued at £8. In 1864 the house was occupied by a Mr. Richard Harrison who resided there until 1878 when the house fell vacant. The Annual Revisions Town Plan (1860s) depicts the house as a small square building with the current rear return (now used as a shop store). In 1882 the house was occupied by the Rev. Richard A. Kernan, at that time a Curate of the Parish Church who later became its Rector between 1890 and 1913 (Barry, p. 102). Kernan resided at the house until 1890 before moving to the Church Rectory south of Hillsborough. A Mr. Richard Foster took over residency in 1891 and lived at the house until he was replaced by a Kevin Foster in 1902. The 1901 census records that Kevin Foster (43) was a Linen Factory Manager who lived at No. 32 Main Street with his wife Annie (36) and his two children. Foster was still listed as the occupant in 1911 when the house was recorded as a 1st class dwelling consisting of 13 inhabited rooms; a wash room and coal house noted as the only out offices. Kevin Foster resided at the house until his death in 1929 when his wife Annie was noted as the occupant.

Field inspection suggests a date of c.1780; mismatched brick suggests that the house may originally have been a single-bay townhouse, with the right bay added later. This may account for the profile of the facade, which is angled to join with the terrace on The Square. In 1974 Brett described the house as a ‘three-storey redbrick house, with a slightly convex front and good plain doorway’ (Brett, p. 20). The building was listed category B in 1976 and in 1978 the bottom floor of the building was converted into a toy shop named ‘The Cheshire Cat’ with the upper floors used as a private flat. In 1980 renovations were carried out on the building and the roof was repaired in 1985. The shop has recently relocated to No.32, after a brief period at an adjacent address.

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 1856-64
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. Ulster Towns Directory (1901; 1911).

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. NIEA File – HB19/05/014.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Well proportioned and detailed mid terrace two-bay three-storey redbrick former house, built c.1780, located on the east side of Main Street Hillsborough. A tall slender house with a curious angle to the front elevation that marks the transition from Main Street to The Square. Both the interior and exterior retain a substantial proportion of original fabric which along with the textured handmade redbrick facade add a great deal of character to this building. It enjoys a good setting in the heart of Hillsborough conservation area.