92 Main Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A two-storey single-bay mid-terrace Georgian townhouse erected in the 18th century. Accessed from and incorporating the right hand ground floor bay of the adjoining building, no. 92 Main Street (HB19/22/025), to the left. Located on the north side of principal thoroughfare through the town of Moira, adjoining a similar house at no. 94 Main St.(HB19/22/026A).

Replacement pitched roof with artificial slate; cement rendered chimney. Cast-iron semi-circular gutter fixed to a projected corbel course. Ruled-and-lined rendered walling painted white with projected smooth rendered plinth painted green. The rear elevation is rubble masonry with red brick surrounds; largely overgrown. 1/1 & 6/6 timber sliding box sash windows, no horns; stone cills. Timber front door with four moulded-panels.

The principal elevation faces south east and is asymmetrically arranged. Single ground floor window to the right; front door to the left. Two first floor windows. Large single-glazed opening to the left of the ground floor making up right hand side of the facade to HB19/22/25. Awning fixed over window below large non-illuminated signage.

The left gable is abutted by adjoining building (HB19/22/025).

The rear elevation is asymmetrically arranged. Heavily overgrown vegitation has resulted in the elevation being largely obscured from view.

The right gable is abutted by adjoining building (HB19/22/026B).

Setting:

The building forms part of the two-storey Georgian terraces which largely make up the lower part of the town. A rear yard which serves several neighbouring properties, is largely overgrown with adjacent single storey masonry outbuildings (of no significant interest); and is accessed by a modern roller shutter located to the right of adjoining building (HB19/22/026B).

Roofing: Artificial slate
Walling: Ruled-and-lined render
Windows: Timber slidi-g 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 single-bay mid-terrace Georgian townhouse erected in the 18th century. Incorporating the ground floor right hand bay of the adjoining building (HB19/22/025). Externally the building has retained some of its character. The interior has undergone much alteration resulting in the loss of most of its original internal features. Although it makes a contribution to the 18th century terrace, It is not considered of special interest and to 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. The record was renumbered from HB19/22/026.