81 Main Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A two-storey three-bay Georgian mid terrace townhouse with rectangular plan form built c.1735, located in the northeast end of the principal thoroughfare through the town of Moira between numbers 79 and 83 Main Street.

The roofing is pitched natural slate with clay ridge tiles and a red brick chimneystack paired with the adjoining property with clay pots over. Cast-iron rainwater goods with semi-circular gutter and circular downpipe painted blue with facetted hopper head with cornice detailing at front facade. Some uPVC downpipe additions to the rear. The walling is ruled and lined render finish painted grey with a smooth rendered plinth, painted blue to front elevation with natural finished roughcast render to the rear. The windows are single glazed 6/6, timber sliding box sash Georgian windows painted white, sash boxes painted black; no horns with large rectangular stone cills painted blue to front facade.

The principal elevation faces north and is asymmetrically arranged with varying window sizes. The front entrance is located off centre with paired windows to the left hand side and a larger single window to the right hand side of the ground floor. On the first floor level there is a single window to left hand side and a tripartite window over the front entrance. The front entrance has a six panelled timber door painted blue with brass ironmongery; white painted frame; fixed light over with 5 equal small panes. Sheeted timber rear door painted white.

The left gable abuts the adjoining building number 83 Main Street.

The rear elevation faces south and is set back marginally from the adjoining building number 79 Main Street. It has varying size and types of openings with cills matching the principal elevation.

The right gable abuts the adjoining building number 79 Main Street.
The building is located mid terrace facing 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 entrance located between numbers 77 and 79 Main Street.

Roof Natural slate
RWG Cast-iron
Walling Rough Cast
Windows Replacement single glazed timber sash

Historical information

Built in c.1735 during the early development of Moira, this building forms part of the two-storey Georgian terraces which line the Main Street. This development of the town from mud and clay dwellings to stone and brick buildings is credited to the Rawdon family (Hearth). It is widely accepted that the completion of the village is inscribed on a date stone, located on a neighbouring building, which bears the date 1735.

The OS map of 1833 shows the building as having a large formal garden to the rear. The 1858 edition shows a return to the building, both of which have since been removed.

The Annual Revisions 1866-78 identify the building as '130 Town of Moira', and included what we today recognise as numbers 79 & 81 Main Street. From 1867 the occupancy was taken up by the McDowell family who in 1894 sub-divided the dwelling and 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.

R.V. Binders 1933-57 continued to recognise, the current 81 Main Street, as two individual dwellings, now numbered as 110 & 111 Town of Moira. This is identified in an aerial photo of the village c.1950 showing two front entrances to the building. (McCartney)

The 3rd General Revaluation Lists 1975 recognise the buildings as one dwelling and record the building as having a garden and being vacant. The building remained vacant until Hearth Housing Association restored the building in 1987. The building has remained in use as a surgery since. (Hearth)

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
19. Hearth – www.hearth-housing.org.uk
20. McCartneys - www.mccartneysofmoira.co.uk/arielviewofvillage.htm

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

A two-storey three-bay Georgian mid terrace townhouse with rectangular plan form built c.1735, with early 19th century alterations, which displays urban vernacular style proportions, in contrast to some of the other more formal Gerogian properties in Main street, Moira. Despite undergoing a large scale restoration after a period of dereliction in the 1980s which caused loss of original fabric, including the windows, the building has retained its planform and some orignal internal features, particularly timber panelling and architraves to window reveals. With a 'Wyatt' style window, typical of the main street in the village, and its context within a historic terrace comprising nos. 77-101 Main St. (HB19/22/005A-M) (group value), the building makes a positive contribution to the character of Moira.

General comments

Previoulsy recorded as HB19/22/005D