Moira Bakery

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A two-storey three-bay mid-terrace Georgian townhouse built during the 18th century; rectangular plan form with 1 ½ -storey rear return. Located on the main thoroughfare through the centre of Moira.

Pitched artificial slate roof; cast-iron semi-circular gutters (partially removed). Cement rendered chimneys; no pots. Smooth rendered walling. 6/6 timber sliding box sash windows; no horns; masonry rectangular cills. Shared entrance incorporated in the shop front; timber door with glazed upper panels.

The principal elevation faces south east and is asymmetrically arranged. The ground floor comprises glazed shop fronts with associated roller shutter hoods; central shared entrance porch; elliptical-arched coach entrance with timber gates. Three first floor windows (central and right window partially obscured by large modern non-illuminated signage).

The left gable is abutted by 90 Main Street Moira (HB19/22/024).

The rear elevation is asymmetrically arranged; roughcast rendered. Lintel-headed coach entrance ground floor right with a rear door (boarded up) to the left. Two diminished timber casement first floor windows with two horizontal timber casement attic windows. The left is abutted by a 1 ½ storey return; partially roughcast rendered; the rear portion is exposed random rubble with red-brick surrounds to round-headed arched windows; further single-storey modern abutment.

The right gable is abutted by 94 Main Street Moira (HB19/22/026)

Setting:

The building forms part of the overall two-storey Georgian terraces which largely make up the lower part of the town. The yard to the rear, shared with the adjoining property (HB19.22.024) comprises several historic outbuildings which have undergone varying degrees of alteration.

Roofing : Artificial slate
Walling: Smooth render
Windows: Timber sliding sash
RWG: Cast-iron

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 three-bay mid-terrace Georgian townhouse originally built during the 18th century. Although externally the building has retained some of its Georgian style and proportions to the upper floors, the introduction of modern shop fronts detracts from the character of the georgian façade. Despite the ground floor interior being largely modified, the first floor has retained a significant amount of unaltered joinery work including two good stairs with intact detailing of the period. The building makes a positive contribution to the Georgian streetscape but is not considered of sufficient interest to warrant listing.

General comments

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