6 William Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Part of a two storey gabled terrace of shops, offices and flats set of the W side of William Street with a return into Corry Street. The entire terrace is built of squared Scrabo sandstone rubble the main roof has Bangor blue slates with four main rendered chimneys. The terrace is generally in good condition, but there has been significant alterations to some of the properties.

Front E facade has doorway to right with plain pilasters and moulded semicircular archivolt which encloses a panelled door with semicircular fanlight with ‘spider web’ tracery. To the left of the doorway are two sash windows with horizontal glazing bars, both set on a cill course with wall and plinth below course finished in plain render. To the first floor are three similar windows also on a cill course. There is a large timber sign board above the first floor windows.

To the rear is a two storey lean to return (which ‘leans’ into the S facade of the large return to the N [i.e. Nos.2A and 2B Corry Street]). This return is finished in rough cast render and has three Georgian paned sash windows to the first floor to the S facade and on to the first floor of the W facade. To the ground floor of the S facade are three small similar windows, with a plain timber sheeted rear door between the first and second window. To the rear of the main building are two attic windows (as return) with that to the right slightly smaller. To the right on the first floor is a similar window. Mixture of cast iron and PVC rw goods.

The return has a single storey section attached to its W gable. This section contains a modern glazed door with plain fanlight (the entrance to No.2B Corry Street). The stonework to the immediate right of the door opening has been patched in unsuitable dark rubble. To the left of the doorway (on the ground floor of the return proper) are two Georgian paned sash windows, the right of which has a red and yellow brick ‘lintel’. To the first floor are two window openings with brick ‘lintels’ and now with PVC frames (these windows appear to belong to No.2A Corry Street). To the W side of the single storey section on the return gable, is a sandstone carriage arch with segmental arch head with Masonic symbol on keystone.

The exposed sections of the E gable and S face of the return section are finished in rough cast render. The gable has two modern windows to the first floor and two tiny attic windows.

The roof of the main terrace house and the return both have Bangor blue slates. There is a small cast iron skylight to the S side of the return roof.

Historical information

Only part of this terrace is shown on the revised OS Map of 1858-60, possibly Nos.2-4 William Street. The return to Corry Street does not appear to have been built at this date, nor does No.8 William Street.
The Shop front front to No.4 William Street is a fairly recent insertion, but that to No.8 may date from the early twentieth century.

References- Primary sources.
1 PRONI D.654/LE36A Londonderry Papers- Leases concerning properties with Newtownards, 1674-19[?].
2 PRONI D.654/M36/1-101 Londonderry Papers- Maps of Newtownards, c.1770-c.1940.
3 PRONI Ordnance Survey Maps 1st rev. 1858-60 Co. Down 6.
4 PRONI 2nd (‘Griffith’s) valuation, parish of Newtownards, Corporation North, 1863.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
H-. Alterations detracting from building
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Substantial two storey terraced house of c.1840-50, in Scrabo stone, with late Georgian appearance. This property appears largely intact externally.