64 Church Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A gabled rectangular rendered building with Gothic arched windows to the front, originally built as a Methodist church but now converted to a shop. Main entrance faces north.

Behind the high level horizontal screen raised across the front of the building the original front can be discerned: a 3-bay gable with central entrance: dentilled timber barge boards; walling of smooth cement render, painted, with slightly projecting plinth; central doorway contains a rectangular timber panelled door, with square label moulding and shaped label stops. To each side of entrance are Gothic arched openings containing Gothic arched timber windows comprising rectangular timber sliding sashes, 8 over 1, without horns, surmounted by a Gothic arched tracery light with intersecting glazing bars; arched label mouldings with shaped label stops. The space above the door is occupied by a similar Gothic arched window. Above it is a raised moulded shield panel, and in the apex of the gable is quatrefoil sinking surmounted by a moulded semi-circular drip with shaped stops.

Side elevations are mainly obscured by adjoining buildings, except for parts to the rear; pvc gutter; looks like asbestos roof tiles; wall is rendered with dry dash of limestone chippings with smooth plinth.

Rear elevation: smooth cement rendered apex to gable, with a 2-storey flat roofed block projecting below: rendered walls of dry dash; timber eaves board; pvc gutter and downpipe. One doorway, rectangular flush timber; two window openings to ground floor, one blocked up and one party blocked up, first floor contains a modern window small paned fixed light with top-hung vent.

SETTING: The building stands facing the main street but set back from it between adjoining buildings, with forecourt covered by a roof of corrugated iron sheets and corrugated perspex sheets supported on a framework of timber beams and joists resting on iron or steel brackets fixed to the front of the building.
Setting at rear: the building stands in a large concrete surfaced yard. To the east of the building is a large modern pitched roof modern building with a steel fire escape stairway. To the west is a gabled building of basalt rubble and brickwork with window openings blocked up.

Historical information

Built in 1823 as a Primitive Methodist Chapel; converted to commercial purposes in 1970s or 1980s.

References – Primary Sources
1. OS Map 1833, Co Antrim 50.
2. Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland, Vol 29: Parishes of County Antrim XI, 1832-3, 1835-9 (Belfast 1995), pp 9, 45.

Secondary Sources
1. UAHS, Antrim and Ballymena (Belfast, 1969), p 6, item no 7.
2. A. Smyth, The Story of Antrim (Antrim, 1984), p 62.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

This is an early 19th century building in a Gothic style, originally a church but now a shop, that retains its architectural and historic interest despite the alterations to the front.