74-76 Main Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two storey gabled terraced bank on the SE side of Main Street in Kircubbin, originally two properties, now one.

Front SW facade has almost central timber panel entrance door, encased with simple narrow fluted pilasters and slim ‘cornice’ course which stretches over large modern mullioned window (looking into banking hall), with large laminated sign with PVC letters and bank logo. ‘Cornice’ above sign. Narrow ‘pilasters’ to large windows. This door and window originally belonged to No.76.

‘No.74’ has two sliding sash and case windows to the left with simple moulded surrounds and keystone, with ‘mirrored’ glass to window at far left. To right of windows is the former entrance to No.74, whose moulded surround is still visible but which is now blocked with ATM, with small arched canopy above. Laminated projecting bank sign above former doorway. The first floor has six sliding sash and case windows with moulded keystones and drop hood surrounds all of which are linked as a ‘string course’ with semicircular arch in ‘string’ between windows. ‘Cill course’ to first floor windows. Facade finished in plain render with chamfered quoins.

Exposed gables rendered. Eaves course.

Roof pitched with Bangor blue slates and thick clay tiles as parapets. Four rendered chimney stacks. Cast iron gutter.

Historical information

Buildings are shown on this site of the OS Map of 1834. This structure may date from the early to mid nineteenth century, with the decoration to the windows and doors added probably when the bank took over the premises in 1918. Prior to this date No.76 had been a public house known as ‘The Mermaid’. In common with other branches, No.74 was the bank manager’s residence.

References- Primary sources
1 Pigot & Co.s “City of Dublin and Hibernian Provincial Directory” (Manchester 1824), pp. 417-18. [Description of the town of Kircubbin etc. in c.1824. See also Slater’s “Directory” for 1846, 1856 and 1870, original copies of which are currently held at the Linenhall Library, Belfast.]
2 PRONI Ordnance Survey Maps, 1st Edition, 1834, Co. Down 18.
3 Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland Vol.7: Parishes of County Down II, ed. Angelique Day and Patrick McWilliams (QUB 1991), p. 84-5. [c.1834]
4 PRONI VAL 1B/311A & B 1st valuation, Inishargy, c.1835.
5 PRONI Ordnance Survey Maps, 1st revision, 1860, Co. Down 18.
6 PRONI 2nd valuation, Inishargy, c.1863.

Secondary sources
1 William James Knox 'Decades of the Ulster Bank' (Belfast 1965), p.173.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Two storey (probably) mid 19th century pair of terrace houses now a bank. A large picture window has been inserted at the front as well as an ATM and recent bank signage.