6 Bridge Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two storey terrace shop (probably originally a house of possible late 18th century origin) set on the N side of Bridge Street.

The front (S) façade has a left of centre doorway with a semicircular ‘radial’ fanlight. The doorway has a surround consisting of narrow pilasters with brackets supporting a broken pediment. To the left of the doorway is a small sash windows with Georgian panes (four over four). To the right of the doorway the render shows evidence of another doorway having been blocked up. To the far left is another sash window, as before but larger (six over six). This window frame appears to have been replaced recently. The render around this window seems to suggest that the opening may have been larger [?with it and the blocked door once serving as a shop front]. To the first floor are three windows as ground floor right (but slightly smaller). To the left of these windows the relatively large space suggests that there was once another window here, but the interior layout suggests not. The façade is finished in lined render and painted. There is a small traditional style projecting sign to the left of the doorway with a small (flat) signboard below this.

To the left on the ground floor of the rear façade is a sash window as front right. To the right of this is a relatively small single storey lean to with modern window to the N face and doorway to the E face. To the left on the first floor is a sash window as ground floor left. To the right of this is a relatively narrow double sash window (both four over four). The sash frames to the rear look as if they are recent replacements. The rear is finished in unpainted cement render.

The gabled roof is covered in natural slates with two Velux windows to the rear. Two rendered chimney stacks. Cast iron rw goods.

Historical information

This site is shown occupied on the Comber map of 1722 and all available maps thereafter. The valuation records of 1834 tell us that the building (which then belonged to George Allen) contained a house (in then possession of a Mrs. Hall) to the upper floors, and an ‘office’ (i.e. commercial premises) to the ground floor. This ties in with the interior layout of the present building with its relatively large entrance hallway and also with the evidence to the front façade which suggests that there may once a shop front to the right hand side. The building itself was graded ‘B-‘ by the valuers, suggesting that it may date from the later 18th century.

The ‘shop front’ appears to have been filled in by the mid 20th century, at least, with the whole property becoming a dwelling house. Ironically, however, the first floor now houses a shop, with the ground floor vacant.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI D.654/M1B/2 Londonderry Papers- ‘Survey of the town, tenements and parks of Comber…1722’.
2 PRONI D.654/M54/3, 11, 27, 33, 37 Londonderry Papers- Maps of Bridge Street 1793-1833.
3 PRONI VAL 1B/316A p.62 1st valuation, Comber, 1834.
4 PRONI OS/1/3/10 OS map, 1st ed. 1834, Down 10.
5 PRONI OS/6/3/10/3 OS map, 1st rev. 1858, Down 10.
6 PRONI 2nd valuation, Comber, 1861. [In print in PRONI search room and in the Linen Hall Library- the town plan to accompany this valuation is missing.]
7 PRONI OS/2/3/10 OS map, 2nd ed. 1901, Down 10.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
C. Ornamentation
H-. Alterations detracting from building

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Good example of a Two storey terrace house of possible late 18th century origin which probably once had a shop front to the right on the front façade, but which may have been removed in the early 1900s, or earlier. The first floor now houses a shop.