Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB19/13/001

Address :
68 Bow Street Lisburn Co. Antrim BT28 1AL

Townland:
Old Warren / Tonagh

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Survey 2:
B+

Date of Listing:
02/03/1977 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Office - Terrace

Former Use
House

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
No

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
165/06

IG Ref:
J2642 6430

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Owner Category

Commercial

Exterior Description And Setting

Mid-terrace five-bay three-storey rendered former townhouse, built c.1850, rectangular on plan facing south with integral carriage arch to west bay. Street-fronted to the north side of Bow Street with front railed area and rear site occupied by large single-storey pre-fabricated industrial building. Pitched natural slate roof with two large rendered profiled chimneystacks with clay pots behind parapet wall with metal covering and metal or plastic cornice to drip course of original cornice below. Replacement pipe breaking through parapet wall to square-profile cast-iron downpipe. Painted ruled-and-lined render walling to render plinth course and decorative render quoins. Square-headed window openings with architrave surrounds and keystones, painted masonry sills and 6/6 timber sash windows. Five-bay three-storey front elevation with square-headed carriage arch broken into east bay with moulded cornice above. Central three-centred arched door opening with moulded architrave surround on plinth blocks and panelled archivolt. Painted masonry doorcase set within arch comprising: square-headed door opening with timber flat-panelled door flanked by pair of Ionic columns on blocks supporting lintel cornice and inverted tear-drop fanlight above, opening onto nosed sandstone step. West gable abutted by adjoining lower modern building with an additional gable wall to former building remaining and having slate covering. Five-bay rear elevation with projecting bowed central stairhall bay and additional storey to the two east bays. Rear abutted by flat-roofed prefabricated building. Painted rendered walling and various cast-iron and plastic rainwater goods. Round-headed window openings to stairhall bay with fixed-pane timber window to the top floor with integrated spoked fanlight. Single-pane timber sash windows to the other two floors with decorative leaded coloured glass. 6/6 timber sash windows with cylinder glass to remainder except top two east bays having 6/3 timber sash windows and two windows below having horizontally-glazed 2/2 timber sash windows, one opening onto steel fire escape. East side elevation abutted by adjoining twentieth-century building at a lower level. Roof Natural slate RWG Cast-iron Walling Ruled-and-lined render Windows Original timber sash

Architects

Not Known

Historical Information

The house shows stylistic features from several periods and may incorporate elements of an earlier Georgian building, but the facade has a mid-nineteenth century appearance. Unfortunately, Townland Valuation maps for Lisburn have not survived and therefore it is not possible to identify the house with any certainty in these records. The house is listed in Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64) as a house, offices, yard and garden valued at £55 for buildings. Dimensions are given of 13x12x3? for the house, 7x3?x1? for the return and 2x1x3 for the stairs, which protrude slightly to the rear. The house is occupied by Robert Stewart and the immediate lessor is the Marquess of Hertford. It is noted that the building is stone. The sheds to the rear of the building are in use as a ‘thread manufactory’. Robert Stewart started a business in Lisburn, twisting thread by hand, in 1835. In 1845 he took his sons Robert and James Andrew into partnership with him and began trading as Robert Stewart & Sons. Robert Stewart senior died in 1858 but his sons continued the business, until 1882 when Robert Stewart junior died leaving his brother as proprietor. The firm’s growth made it necessary to build a new spinning mill which was completed in 1889 and was situated near the railway station. The official guide to Lisburn in 1918 praises the new building as ‘a handsome structure, built on the most modern designs’. It would appear that in 1860 the business was being run at the current building. (Guide to Lisburn) However, by c.1865 the site was no longer in use as a factory and was occupied by the Misses Stewart who remained in residence for some years, becoming the owners in fee in 1896. In 1908, Francis Russell, veterinary surgeon, took over the house. Valuer’s notes record that he has converted it into a veterinary establishment and made a gateway through to the back of the property. A historic photograph of Lisburn dating from c.1900 shows the house before the gateway has been made. A plan and dimensions of the property are given in the notebook. In 1928, Francis Russell is known to have been a member of the town council and the town veterinary inspector. (Kee) In 1934 the house is raised in value to £70. At this time the accommodation comprises, on the first floor, a reception, surgery, kitchen, scullery and two pantries. On the first floor, a reception, four bedrooms, a bathroom and WC. On the second floor, five bedrooms (4 vacant) and on the third floor a vacant bedroom. The house is provided with gas and hot and cold water. The valuer remarks ‘Large house, several bedrooms of which are unoccupied. Stables in excess of personal requirements.’ Dimensions and a plan are given. By 1949, John McClelland occupies the house and many of the outbuildings have been removed so that the valuation is reduced to £60. By 1952 a washhouse and store have been added to the rear. References Primary Sources 1. PRONI OS/6/1/68/1 – First Edition OS Map 1833 2. PRONI OS/6/1/68/2 – Second Edition OS map 1857 3. PRONI OS/6/1/68/3 – Third Edition OS Map c1900 4. PRONI OS/6/1/68/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1921 5. PRONI OS/6/1/68/5 – Fifth Edition OS Map 1939 6. PRONI VAL/2/B/1/61C – Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64) 7. PRONI VAL/12/B/8/9A-T – Annual Revisions (1863-1924) 8. PRONI VAL/12/E/40/1/ – Annual Revisions Town Plan (1877-c1898) 9. PRONI VAL/12/E/40/2/ – Annual Revisions Town Plan (1898-c1907) 10. PRONI VAL/12/E/40/4 – Annual Revisions Town Plan (1907-c1927) 11. PRONI VAL/3D/1/13/B/11 – Valuers’ RV Binder (1933-57) Secondary Sources 1. Kee, R “Lisburn Miscellany” Lisburn Historical Society, 1976 (available at ww.lisburn.com) 2. “Guide to Lisburn, Official Handbook” Dundee: Simmath Press, c1918

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

Evaluation

A substantial well proportioned five-bay three-storey rendered former townhouse, dating from the mid nineteeth century, but possibly incorporating an earlier building. The house retains its original sash windows, doorcase and general facade composition. Having undergone an extensive renovation in the early twentieth-century, much of the interior character dates from this period, interspersed with much of the earlier fabric such as the continuous timber stair and some of its earlier door and window arrangements. Being one of the last remaining houses on Bow Street surrounded by undistinguished twentieth-century buildings, this house is also importantas a rare historical survivor.

General Comments

Date of Survey

26 May 2010