Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB10/12/036

Address :
The Farmers Home, 19-23 Railway Street, Strabane, Co Tyrone, BT82 8EG

Townland:
Town Parks of Strabane

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Survey 2:
B2

Date of Listing:
15/06/2010 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Public House

Former Use
Public House

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
No

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
72-4SW

IG Ref:
H3434 9798

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Owner Category

Private

Exterior Description And Setting

Detached street-fronted three-bay two-storey rendered former house with attic, built c.1870, in use as public house. Rectangular on plan, facing south and located on the north side of Railway Street with a single-storey return and further modern single-storey extension to east gable extending to rear. Pitched natural slate roof, black clay ridge tiles, three rendered chimneystacks with clay pots and cast-iron rainwater goods; rear pitch has a small dormer window inset with an extractor fan. Painted ruled-and-lined rendered walling with rendered quoins to front elevation, pebble dash rendered to side elevations, smooth render to rear. Square-headed window openings, painted masonry sills and 1/1 timber sash windows. Principal elevation is five openings wide; pub shopfront occupies the left bay and comprises; at left, an enlarged window opening with render architrave surround with tripartite fixed-pane timber display window, a square-headed door opening to the right has render architrave surround, with moulded entablature extending across shop window. Door is replacement double-leaf timber panelled with further internal pair of original wood-grained timber panelled doors; glazed upper panels have coloured margin lights and brass bars. The central and right bay formerly comprised landlord's accomodation - central bay has a window at left and, at right, a timber panelled door with overlight set in moulded render architrave surround on plinth blocks; the right bay has a single window. First floor has five irregularly spaced windows. The walls have traditional painted lettering, 'The Farmers Home' and the name 'McHenry'. West gable has single door opening with tongue-and-groove timber door. Multi-bay two-storey rear elevation abutted by single-storey corrugated iron roofed return and steel fire escape. 6/6 timber sash window and further 2/2 with replacement timber sheeted doors. East gable abutted by recent off-licence extension with single-pitched fibre cement slate roof and hardwood display windows and hardwood glazed double-leaf doors opening onto cobbled ramp. Small opening to gable at attic-level with four-pane timber casement window. Front and east side areas finished in bitmac with row of steel bollards. Courtyard to rear with rubble outbuildings and walling and single storey stable block; stable block and part of two storey outbuilding in poor condition. Wrought-iron gates to west gable. Roof Natural slate Walling Ruled-and-lined render / pebble dash render Windows Timber sash Rainwater goods Cast-iron

Architects

Not Known

Historical Information

A house is present on the first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1833 together with an outbuilding that appears to have survived to the present day; however the current building would appear to date from c.1870, according to valuation evidence. The Townland Valuation (1828-40) town plan of Strabane has not survived and the building is therefore not identifiable. In Griffith’s Valuation it is listed as a house, offices, yard and land valued at £11.15s. It is leased by Robert Henderson from the Marquis of Abercorn. The valuation has dropped to £11 in Annual Revisions of 1860. Andrew Gourley becomes the occupier in 1868 and the valuation increases to £16 (undated change), perhaps indicating remodelling of the property, or the addition of outbuildings. Thomas Quigley is the occupier in 1876 and there is a further increase to £22.10s, again, strongly indicating possible remodelling or additions - no rebuilding is noted but the increase suggests that substantial rebuilding has taken place during the period of one or both of these revisions. In 1892 the building is re-designated a ‘public’ house. In 1906 a billiard room is built adjacent to the public house to the east and valuers’ notes give a plan and dimensions for this. Elizabeth McHenry becomes the occupier of pub and billiard room in 1918 and in 1920 the value of the buildings is increased to £28. (The McHenry name is painted on the current building). Valuers’ notes state that the reason for increase is the rebuilding in brick of a wooden shed formerly used for stabling. The notes also state that a new garage has been built in former outbuildings to west; the occupier of the garage is listed as John McHenry, husband of Elizabeth, and Pat Cameron, her son. It is separately valued. In 1923 the adjacent billiard hall becomes a post office and yard occupied by the Postmaster General. After 1934 the lessor becomes the Baronscourt Estate Co (undated change). The licensed house, called ‘Farmers Home’, comprises a kitchen, two rooms, with bar and bottling store, and cloakroom with four bedrooms, two rooms and attics upstairs. A plan and dimensions are given and the valuer notes that the owner has a 61 year lease from 1877. The building to the west is at this time being used by a taxi proprietor for garaging and repairing his cars. References: Primary Sources 1. PRONI OS/6/6/5/1 – First Edition OS Map (1833) 2. PRONI OS/6/6/5/2 – Second Edition OS Map (1854) 3. PRONI OS/6/6/5/3 – Third Edition OS Map (1905) 4. PRONI OS/6/6/5/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map (1951) 5. PRONI VAL/1/A/6/5 – Townland Valuation Map 6. PRONI VAL/1/B/640 – Townland Valuation (1828-40) 7. PRONI VAL/2/A/6/5 – Griffiths’ Valuation Map 8. PRONI Printed Griffith’s Valuation, Union of Strabane (1859) 9. PRONI VAL/2/D/6/18A-B – Griffith’s Valuation Town Plan 10. PRONI VAL/12/A/6/57 – Valuers’ Note Book (1901-6) 11. PRONI VAL/12/A/6/60 – Valuers’ Note Book (1915-22) 12. PRONI VAL/12/B/42/31A-M – Annual Revision Records (1860-1931) 13. PRONI VAL/12/E/187/1/4 – Annual Revisions Town Plan 14. PRONI VAL/3/D/7/9A/19 – Valuers’ RV Binder (1933-57) 15. PRONI VAL/3/G/159/1/1 – First NI General Revaluation Town Plan

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style B. Proportion C. Ornamentation D. Plan Form H-. Alterations detracting from building I. Quality and survival of Interior

Historic Interest

X. Local Interest Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance Z. Rarity

Evaluation

Detached five-bay two-storey rendered house and public house on the north side of Railway Street. This relatively simple mid- nineteenth-century house and shop retains its public house shopfront, timber sash windows and some stone outbuildings. A well-known local establishment, the social significance of this building is further enhanced by its intact interior retaining an original nineteenth-century layout, fire surround and timber joinery, revealing a typical arrangement of commercial shop/bar and residential premises with most of its detailing remaining. This type of building was once common to the Irish townscape, and is now increasingly rare.

General Comments

Date of Survey

13 August 2009