79 Main Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A two-storey three-bay Georgian mid terrace townhouse with a square plan form, over basement with attic, built c.1735, located at the northeast end of the principal thoroughfare through the town of Moira, between numbers 77 and 81 Main Street.

The roofing is pitched natural slate with clay ridge tile and clipped verge to the left hand side. Cast iron rainwater goods with semi-circular guttering and a circular downpipe painted blue shared with the adjoining property with some uPVC downpipe additions to the rear. Red brick chimney stack with clay pots over. Two modern roof lights to rear pitch. The walling is basalt stone random rubble, with some decorative galletting to the principal elevation, with 1 ½ red brick flat arches over with banding between arches over the ground floor windows. The rear facade is random rubble basalt stone with matching head details. The windows are single glazed 6/6, timber sliding box sash Georgian windows painted white with black boxes; no horns and large rectangular stone cills painted black to front facade and green to the rear. The main entrance door is a six panelled timber front door painted black with brass ironmongery; white painted frame with a rectangular fixed light over; decorated with horizontal lattice arranged timber glazing bars. The rear door is a modern timber glazed door.

The principal elevation faces north and is asymmetrically arranged with the entrance to right hand side with 2 windows to centre and left at ground floor with 3 windows directly over at first floor.

The left gable abuts the adjoining terrace number 81 Main Street.

The rear elevation has five window openings of varying sizes and head/cill levels, with one 1/1 single glazed timber sliding sash located adjacent to the rear door. There is also a half height timber sheet door to basement level. The rear door is accessed via a set of steps constructed from brick and stone.

The right gable part forms the side of the carriageway and part abuts adjoining building number 77 Main Street.

The building is situated mid terrace and faces directly on to the principal road through Moira with direct entrance off the foot path. Access to the rear of the building is via the coach access of the adjoining neighbouring property.

Roofing Narural Slate
Walling Random rubble basalt with decorative galletting
Window Single glazed 6/6 timber sliding sash
RWG Cast Iron

Historical information

Built c.1735 during the early development of Moira, largely credited to the Rawdon Family (Rudd). The completion of the village is locally recognised by the date stone 1735 located on the terrace opposite.

The OS maps of 1833 and 1958 show the number 79 with outbuildings and formal gardens to the rear although neither of these remain.

The Annual Revisions from 1866-78 record the landlord as Sir Thomas Bateson owner of the Moira Demesne and purchased from the Rawdon family in 1800. At that time the building was numbered as '130 Town of Moira' and included what is now recognised as numbers 79 & 81 Main Street.

From 1867 the occupancy was taken up by the McDowell family until 1894 when the records indicate that Robert McDowell sub-divided the dwelling, including the out houses, into five individual premises. McDowell then became the immediate lessor, collecting the rent from four other occupiers while remaining in one of the outbuildings, paying rent to Sir Thomas Bateson’s successor, Lord Deramore.

What is now recognised as number 79 Main Street, was described in the R.V. Binders 1933-57 valuations as “a good house fitted with electric light.” From 1933 the dwelling remained in occupancy by the Kennedy family until 1976 when the building was vacated.

The dwelling remained vacant for about 10 years before Hearth Housing Association restored the building, in 1987. Since then the building has been owned by a local resident has undergone various commercial and residential uses. Currently vacant at time of survey 2010.

References – Primary sources

1. PRONI VAL/12B/21/7A - Annual Revisions 1866-78
2. PRONI VAL/12B/21/7B – Annual Revisions 1878-93
3. PRONI VAL/12B/21/7C – Annual Revisions 1894-08
4. PRONI VAL/12B/21/7D – Annual Revisions 1909-20
5. PRONI VAL/12B/21/7E – Annual Revisions 1920-29
6. PRONI VAL/12D/3/13A – Annual Revisions Map 1863-79
7. PRONI VAL/12D/3/13C– Annual Revisions Map 1895-14
8. PRONI VAL/12D/3/13E– Annual Revisions Map 1925-35
9. PRONI VAL/12E – Annual Revisions Map 1906-35
10. PRONI OS/6/3/13 - OS Map 1833
11. PRONI OS/6/3/13 - OS Map 1858
12. PRONI OS/6/3/13 - OS Map 1904
13. PRONI OS/6/3/13 - OS Map 1916
14. PRONI VAL/3D/4/12F/4 - RV Binders Val. 1933-57
15. PRONI VAL/14A/183/12 - 3RD General Revaluation Lists 1975
16. PRONI VAL/14B/256/11A - 3RD General Revaluation Lists 1976 – 1987
17. PRONI VAL/14C/248- 3RD General Revaluation Lists 1987 – 1993

References – Secondary sources

18. Canon CRJ Rudd – Moira: A Historical Handbook - Plantation Press Lisburn 674530 and Moira 619759 c.1992

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

This two-storey Georgian mid-terrace townhouse built c.1735 retains its original modest style and proportions. The interior has an original vernacular style dog leg stair, timber roof structure and some fine joinery work, in particular the window shutter boxes. The building has generally retained most of its authenticity. Located in the centre of the village close to the courthouse (HB19/22/004), the building is part of a historic terrace comprising nos. 77-101 Main St. (HB19/22/005A-M) (group value) and makes a positive contribution to the heritage of Moira.

General comments

Previoulsy recorded as HB19/22/005C