The Cheshire Cat

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Mid-terrace two-bay three-storey with attic-storey rendered former house, built c.1780. Rectangular on plan facing west with stair return added c.2000 and shopfront to ground floor.

Pitched natural slate roof with black clay ridge tiles and a rebuilt large redbrick chimneystack (shared with No.2). Cast-iron gutter on iron brackets to a convex eaves course with cast-iron downpipe. Ruled-and-lined cement rendered walling. Square-headed window openings with concrete sills and replacement 6/6 timber sash windows with exposed sash boxes.

Two-bay three-storey front west elevation with diminutive timber shopfront to the ground floor comprising: fixed-pane display window on painted masonry sill and timber architrave surround incorporating small timber fascia and square-headed door opening to the right. Timber four-panelled door with raised and fielded panels and brass furniture opening onto concrete step.

North side elevation abutted by adjoining building with its roof line rising to a higher level. The adjoining building has an incorporated carriage arch giving access to the rear.

East rear elevation is cement pebble-dash rendered and abutted by two-storey stair return with lean-to natural slate roof. The rear elevation has replacement timber casement windows and French doors to the ground floor, while the stair return has modern 6/6 timber sash windows.

South side elevation abutted by No.2 (HB19/05/031B).

Setting:
Part of a terrace of similarly scaled houses continuing from Main Street to the east side of The Square overlooking the former Market House and Hillsborough Castle. There is a substantial attractive rear garden with mature trees to the East of nos. 1 & 2 The Square, enclosed by rubblestone walling.

Roof Natural slate
Rainwater goods Cast-iron
Walling Cement render
Windows timber sash

Historical information

The house appears, from field inspection, to be of late eighteenth century date. A building on the site is first shown, somewhat schematically, on an estate map of 1788, the east side of the square being vacant on an earlier map of 1771. A more detailed estate map of c.1800 shows the house occupying the same footprint as today with a large return to the rear. This is noted to be the residence of ‘Davis’.

The Townland Valuation (1828-40) lists the occupier as John Christy and values the house at £4.14s.

In Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64) the house is occupied by John Knox and Edward Hale, being leased from the Marquess of Downshire. The valuation is £7.10s, later reduced to £7 and dimensions are given, the rise in valuation possibly indicating a remodelling or rebuilding. By 1868 it is the residence of Serjeants Derry and Hall who are perhaps connected with the South Down Militia, based, at this time, at number 7 The Square. The house is vacant by 1870 which coincides with the Militia’s removal to Downpatrick.

A succession of tenants follow, David McGee in 1878, Jospeh Beatty in 1881, who is the caretaker of the neighbouring reading room, William McClughan in 1887 and Samuel Walker in 1897. The Canadian, Marshall McLuhan (1911-80), influential media theorist and English professor who coined the phrases, ‘the medium is the message’ and ‘global village’ was descended from the McLughans of Hillsborough, his grandfather William McClughan emigrating in 1846. (Marchand, p.7)

The building was listed in 1976 and in 1985 and 1995 renovations took place. It is currently in use as a shop known as the ‘Cheshire Cat’. (NIEA file)

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/3/14/1 – First Edition OS Map 1833
2. PRONI OS/6/3/14/2 – Second Edition OS map 1858
3. PRONI OS/6/3/14/3 – Third Edition OS Map 1902-3
4. PRONI OS/6/3/14/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1919-20
5. PRONI VAL/1/A/3/14 – Townland Valuation Field Map (c.1830)
6. PRONI VAL/1/B/344A-B – Townland Valuation (1828-40)
7. PRONI VAL/1/D/3/5 – Townland Valuation Town Plan (c.1834)
8. PRONI VAL/2/B/3/45A-C – Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64)
9. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/14/A-E – Annual Revisions (1864-1930)
10. PRONI VAL/12/E/102/1/1-6 – Annual Revisions Town Plan ([c.1864]-1909)
11. D671/M/8/2 – Map of Hillsborough, 1771
12. T3153/1 – Map of Hillsborough, 1788
13. D671/M/8/25 – Map of Hillsborough c.1800
14. D671/M/8/57 – Map of Hillsborough 1803
15. NIEA file – HB19/05/031A

Secondary Sources

1. “Hillsborough, Information Guide” Leaflet produced by Lisburn City Council (n.d.)
2. Marchand, Philip “Marshall McLuhan: the medium and the messenger: a biography”, 1989

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A modest three-storey terraced former house that has long been in commercial use with its ground floor toy shop being a well-known family business in the town. Displaying eighteenth-century style and proportions the building retains its ground floor shopfront. Although a number of refurbishments during the late 20th century have resulted in the replacement of some of the original building fabric, the former house is situated on a prominent site and retains its enclosed rear garden which adds to its significance. Located in a historic terrace leading from Main Street to the east side of The Square, the building overlooks the former Market House and Hillsborough Castle, (HB19/05/076A) and contributes to the heritage of the area.

General comments

Please note this record has been renumbered, it was previously recorded as HB19/05/031