16 High Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A 3-storey, 3-bay gabled block in a terrace, with canted bays to the upper storeys and the ground floor shopped. Main entrance faces south.

South elevation: pitched roof of Bangor blue slates in regular courses, hipped over twin bays; two chimneys, one on each gable, of red brick with red stub pots.
Walling is smooth rendered and painted with channelled rustication; panelled frieze to first floor; modillion eaves cornice to second floor; bracketed cornice to ground floor. Windows are rectangular timber sliding sash, 1 over 1, with horns, two windows in central bay of first floor, with only one central window above that in the second floor, all set in moulded surrounds.

Ground floor consists of a large shop front set between rusticated piers with fluted capitals and moulded plinths. Shop front comprises a recessed central entrance, with modern glazed door and fanlight, set between large plate glass windows, all surmounted by a modern timber shop sign. To each extremity of shop front is a doorway. Left-hand doorway contains an original ironwork gate with plain grille above, leading to an alleyway, set between plastered piers. Pier to left is plain shafted with moulded base and fluted cap. Right-hand doorway contains a rectangular timber panelled door with plain fanlight over, set between similar pilasters to left-hand door. Cast iron downpipe to right of right-hand doorway. Over entire ground floor is a deep bracket cornice which projects forward below each oriel window above.
East and west gables, showing above adjoining properties, are smooth cement rendered.

Rear elevation: rear wall of front block has wall smooth plastered; one window to each floor, rectangular timber sliding sash, 2 over 2, with horns set in plain reveals; ground floor has open alley leading to the street. Roof of Bangor blue slates in regular courses.
Rear return: 2-storey with an attic storey in half-Mansard roof. Roof of Bangor blue slates in regular courses; gabled dormer; one chimney, smooth rendered, with two red pots; looks like pvc gutter. Rear wall smooth cement rendered, partly lined. Two doorways: one to left is flush timber; one to right is glazed flush timber. Two windows to ground floor; two to first floor; and two to attic; all rectangular timber sashed 2 over 2, with horns, except one to first floor which is a modern fixed light with top-hung vent. Cast iron downpipes.
West side of rear return is 2-storeyed; roof slated as previous; smooth rendered, lined and blocked; windows are rectangular timber sashed, 1 over 1, and 2 over 2, with horns.

SETTING: The building stands within a terrace of houses and shops, facing the main street. Setting at rear: rear yard is surfaced in cement screed; boundary walls are smooth cement rendered; small lean-to roofed outbuilding at rear of yard. West wall of yard has a timber boarded door leading into a side alley which leads to main street at front of building.

Historical information

Precise date of building not recorded; a building appears on the site on the OS map of 1857 but its date is indeterminate. Stylistically it may be have been altered to its current appearnace during the third quarter of the 19th century. It was a branch of the Northern Bank at one time.

References – Primary Sources
1. OS Map 1857, Co Antrim 50 (indicates building on the site but precise date indeterminate).

Secondary Sources
1. UAHS, Antrim and Ballymena (Belfast, 1969), p 9.
2. J. Hanna, Old Antrim (Catrine, Ayrshire, 2002), p 6.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building
I. Quality and survival of Interior

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

This is a good example of an urban building of probably mid-Victorian date which retains a number of original features both externally and internally.