Longstone and Barber Shop

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A two-storey with attic three-bay mid-terrace, former Georgian townhouse dating from the mid 18th century. Rectangular plan form with rear return. Located on the north side of the principal thoroughfare through the centre of the town of Moira.

Pitched natural slate roof with clay ridge tiles; red-brick chimneys, no pots. Replacement uPVC ogee moulded gutters with cast-iron circular down pipes. Smooth rendered walling with projected plinth. 2/2 timber sliding sash (box sash to first floor) with vertical glazing bars; moulded surrounds with roundels; rectangular masonry cills. Replacement six-panelled timber door with brass ironmongery; fixed rectangular over-light; flanked by moulded architraves rising to moulded console supporting moulded canopy.

The principal elevation faces south-east and is asymmetrically arranged. The front door is located right of centre with a single window to the right, two to the left and a square-headed carriage way to the far left. The first floor comprises three uniformly arranged windows. Various non-illuminated fascia and side-hung projected signage.

The left gable is abutted by 86 Main Street.

The rear elevation is asymmetrically arranged with two first floor windows to the right hand side. The left is abutted by a subservient roughcast-rendered two-storey return with a single ground and first floor window opening to the right cheek. Ground floor central single-storey flat-roofed extension at the re-entrant with the two-storey return; of little interest. Further abutting the gable end of the two-storey return is a three-storey partially rendered random rubble outbuilding with a variety of segmental and square headed openings.

The right gable is abutted by 90 Main Street (HB19/22/024)

Setting:

The building forms part of the overall two-storey Georgian terraces which largely make up the lower part of the town. A rear yard is accessed via a carriage-way, which leads into a small yard serving a modern rubble masonry building with modern glazed canopy c.2005; under seperate ownership.

Roofing: Natural slate
Walling: Smooth render
Windows: Timber sliding sash
RWG: Cast-iron/uPVC replacement

Historical information

The current building forms part of a terrace that may date from the early eighteenth century, the neighbouring house bearing a datestone of 1735 (HB19/22/024).

The Rawdon family is credited with developing the town from mud and clay dwellings to stone and brick buildings in the mid- eighteenth century. By the time it was visited by Harris in 1744, Moira was a “well laid out and thriving village consisting of one broad street inhabited by many traders, many of whom carry on linen manufacture to good advantage.” (Harris)

A building is shown on the site on the first edition OS map of 1833 and in 1837 Lewis’s survey of Ireland noted that linen manufacture had declined in the town. “The town, though small, is well built, and remarkably clean; it is the property of Sir R Bateson Bart., and consists of one long spacious street...Fairs take place on the first Thursday in February, May, Aug and Nov, for black cattle, pigs, agricultural produce, pedlery &c” (Lewis, p.377)

No significant changes are shown on subsequent editions of the ordnance survey and the building could not be identified in Griffith’s Valuation or the census records of the early twentieth century. It is now in use as commercial premises.

References:

Primary sources

1. PRONI OS/6/3/13 - OS Map 1833
2. PRONI OS/6/3/13 - OS Map 1858
3. PRONI OS/6/3/13 - OS Map 1904
4. PRONI OS/6/3/13 - OS Map 1916

References:

Secondary sources

1. Canon CRJ Rudd – Moira: A Historical Handbook - Plantation Press Lisburn 674530 and Moira 619759 c.1992
2. Harris, W. and Smith, C. “The Antient and Present State of the County of Down” Dublin: A. Reilly, 1744 (Reprinted Ballynahinch: Davidson, 1977)
3. Hearth - www.hearth-housing.org.uk
4. Lewis, Samuel. “A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland” London: S. Lewis & Co., 1837.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A two-storey with attic three-bay mid-terrace, former Georgian townhouse dating from the mid 18th century. The exterior has retained some of its historic character. The mouldings to windows and door surrounds are possibly Victorian additions; however the general style and proportion is largely Georgian. The interior has undergone significant alteration, resulting in the loss of much of the historic features of interest. Although the building makes a positive contribution to the street it is not considered of special interest and does not meet the criteria for listing.

General comments

This record was completed without access to primary source material held by the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland