Davidson’s Railway Hotel,

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two storey gabled public house with living quarters of c.1860, set on the NE side of The Square (between The Brae and the Comber Road), Ballygowan.

Front (SW) façade has a central double timber door encased with plain pilasters and a cornice supported on curved brackets. To the left and to the right of the doorway is a window with modern frame (with ‘Georgian’ panes). To the first floor are three similar windows. Long timber sign board above doorway with another above ground floor window to right. Internally illuminated projecting PVC sign to far left on first floor.

To the far left side of the front façade is a doorstep formerly leading to a (now blocked) doorway. The window to the left of where the doorway once was much larger at one point, though its present size may match its original appearance.

The NW gable rests on the slope of The Brae. To the first floor are two widely spaced windows as front. To the first floor are two similar, but smaller, windows. To the left hand side of this gable is the NW façade of a two storey return which fronts directly onto the street and in turn joins to a taller two storey section. This façade has four windows to the first floor of a similar size. Three of these window openings have shallow segmental arch heads and sash frames with Georgian panes, but that to the far right has a flat arch head and a modern frame. To the ground floor is a large modern window to the far left, then a modern partly glazed doorway, then two small modern windows, and, to the far right another modern doorway (leading to a first floor apartment).

To the SE gable there are three unevenly spaced windows to the ground floor and three to the first floor, all with modern frames similar to front. To the right of this gable is a two storey return section with modern windows to the first floor.

The façade of the main public house and the return to the NW is finished in lined render with chamfered quoins to the front façade. The main roof has Bangor blue slates with two (gable) rendered chimney stacks with original looking octagonal pots. PVC rainwater goods.

Historical information

Much of the buildings we see today in Ballygowan were built in the wake of the arrival in the village of the Belfast & Co. Down railway line in 1858. This building seems to be no exception as it appears to date from the 1860s. The building has been a public house/hotel since the early 20th century at least, and may well have been built as such, however, photographs dating from the same period show that the front façade once had another doorway and large (shop front-like) window to the left.

Primary sources
1 PRONI OS map 1st rev. 1858-60, Down 16.
2 Photographs of The square, Ballygowan [?c.1930], in possession of present owner.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Two storey public house with apartments of c.1860s. The front façade once had another doorway and a larger (shop) window to the left, however the doorway has been blocked up and the window reduced in size to match its neighbours. These changes, however, may well have restored the façade to its original arrangement. The returns to the rear have witnessed less sympathetic alterations.
This property is one of the very few left within Ballygowan which still maintain its 19th century proportions and a semblance of its (and the village’s) original appearance.