27-29 Frances Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two storey terrace block of c.1860s on the S side of Frances Street, originally built as two houses, now converted to shops and offices.

Front (N) facade has large shop front to the left and to the right with a central elliptical arch headed carriage entrance (with metal roller shutter). Each shop front still has the original house entrance (on the immediate left and right of the central arch) with panelled door and fanlight surrounded by thin panelled pilasters and curved brackets supporting blocking course and cornice. The cornice above doorways extends over the carriage arch. The shop front to the right (No.29) has a large internally illuminated PVC signboard above, with a laminated sign board above that to No.27. Both shop windows consist of large (picture) fixed lights.

To the first floor are 7 windows, the 4 to the left and centre are sash, the rest modern. The front facade is finished in painted lined render with chamfered quoins and base. Eaves course. Modern projecting signs to first floor of No.29.

The W gable is blank and rendered.

To the rear of No.29 is a large full height hipped roof return with five sash windows (of varying description and condition- some are boarded) to the rear face, three to the ground floor and two to the first. To the far right on the ground floor of the rear face of the return is a projecting single storey extension with a mono-pitched roof. To the first floor of the W face of the return is a sash window.

To the immediate left of the large return (and attached to it) is a small hipped roof return, positioned directly above the carriage arch. There is a sash window to the rear face of this return. To the immediate left of this (and attached to it) is a small two level hipped return with sash window to the upper level of the rear face and evidence of a blocked window opening directly below it. The entire W face of this return is taken up with a single storey lean to extension.

To the main rear facade of No.27 (i.e. the exposed first floor section above the returns) has two sash windows, the one to the right much smaller and set at an attic landing level. Tall chimney stack attached to far left on main rear facade. The entire rear facade, including all returns, is finished in unpainted cement render.

The main roof is gabled and covered in Bangor blue slates. The roofs of the rear returns also have Bangor blues. Rendered chimney stack to E on main roof, with another to rear at W (set ‘side on’). Cast iron rw goods.

Historical information

This site is not occupied on the 1858 OS map, with this section of the terrace ‘recessed’ at this point with buildings set back from the main line of the street. The present block probably dates from c.1860-c.1870, the latter date perhaps the more accurate. The returns to the rear appear largely original.
When first surveyed in October 1972 the whole property belonged to the (then) Electricity Board, and still had its original ground floor window arrangement.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI OS Maps 1st rev. 1858-60, Co. Down 6.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Large two storey terrace block of c.1860-70 formerly comprising two houses around a central carriage arch, now converted to shops and offices with large picture windows to front. Rear returns appear original. Some pleasant internal detailing to no. 29. The layout of both properties has been substantially altered. The building does not meet the test for listing, but is of significant local interest.