54 Lisburn Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A symmetrical two-storey three-bay late-Georgian mid-terrace townhouse; built c.1800 and located on the west side of Lisburn Street on the approach to Hillsborough town centre. Rectangular on plan with two-storey rubble stone return and conservatory to rear.

Pitched natural slate roof with blue/black angled ridge tiles and rendered chimneystack having tall terracotta pots; replacement brick chimneystack to rear return. Cast-iron half-round rainwater goods. Walling is painted roughcast render on chamfered plinth; rubble stone with red-brick dressings to rear return. Windows are replacement 1/1 timber-framed sliding sash with horns and projecting masonry sills, diminished to first floor.

The principal elevation faces east and is three openings wide to each floor. To centre at ground floor is a four flat-panelled timber door with brass door furniture in moulded surround.

The south elevation is abutted by adjoining building.

The west (rear) elevation is abutted at left by the two-storey rubble stone return having a replacement window to right at first floor; abutted at right by the modern timber conservatory.

The north elevation is abutted by adjoining building (HB19/05/057).

Setting:
Forming part of an early nineteenth-century terrace on the approach to Hillsborough town centre, facing Hillsborough Presbyterian Church dated 1833. Gravelled driveway to rear accessed at lane to north.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: Roughcast render
Windows: Replacement 1/1 timber-framed sash
RWG: Cast-iron

Historical information

No. 54 Lisburn Street can first be seen on a c. 1800 map of Hillsborough where it shown situated at the top end of Lisburn Street and occupied by a Mr. James Hunter. The oldest part of the town, Lisburn Street underwent development between c. 1800 and c. 1830 when a large number of buildings on the northern portion of the street were constructed; at this time Lisburn Street was known as ‘Great Newport Street’ in reference to the construction of the Lagan Canal in the late eighteenth century (Barry, p. 39). No. 54 Lisburn Street was one of a number of earlier Georgian houses that were constructed in the mid to late 18th century before the later development of the street.

James Hunter continued to occupy this property by the Townland Valuations of c. 1830 which recorded the value of No. 54 at £4 14s. The Townland Valuation map and the first edition of the Ordnance Survey map (1833) depict the house as an oblong building which possessed the current two-storey rear return; the later editions of the Ordnance Survey show no discernible alteration to the layout of the house. By 1861 James Hunter had been replaced as occupant of No. 54 Lisburn Street by a Mr. William McNally who let the house from the landlord Patrick McAteer at annual rent of £8. The 1B class house was valued at £6 and measured 8 by 2yds; the rear return measured 6 by 4ft. By 1864 the house had passed into the possession of a Mr. Henry Lavery who occupied the house until 1876 when James Scott, a baker who operated a business from shop premises on Main Street, came into possession of the house (Ulster Towns Directory - 1880). James Scott occupied the house until c. 1901 when it came into the possession of a Mr. James Nimmick, a general laborer and gardener. The 1901 Census tells us that Nimmick (35) was a Presbyterian laborer who lived at No. 54 Lisburn Street with his wife Alice (36) and their daughter Lillie (10). The 1901 and 1911 Census Building returns describe the house as a second class dwelling which possessed between two and three inhabited rooms; the house possessed two stores in 1911 as its sole out offices. James Nimmick continued to occupy No. 54 Lisburn Street until the end of the Annual Revisions in 1930.

Since the current edition of the Ordnance Survey map in 1966 a modern conservatory has been constructed to the rear of the house and the windows have been replaced with timber sliding sash; No. 54 Lisburn Street continues to be occupied as a private dwelling.

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 c. 1830
4. PRONI VAL/1/D/3/5 – Town Plan 1834
5. PRONI OS/6/3/14/1 – First Edition OS Map 1833
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. Census of Ireland 1901 / 1911
16. Ulster Towns Directory (1880)
17. Ordnance Survey map 184-5 (1966)

Secondary Sources
1. Barry, J., ‘Hillsborough: A parish in the Ulster plantation’ (3rd ed.), Belfast, Universities Press., 1982.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A symmetrical two-storey three-bay late-Georgian mid-terrace townhouse; built c.1800 and located on the west side of Lisburn Street on the approach to Hillsborough town centre. Simply detailed and well-proportioned, the building retains an early appearance, with a rubble stone return to rear. Forming part of an early nineteenth-century terrace, number 54 contributes to the character of the historic street. Despite being of some interest the building has replacement windows and is not considered of special interest and suitable for listing.