Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB01/19/019

Address :
Austins 2-6 The Diamond Ferryquay Street Londonderry County Londonderry BT48 6HR

Townland:
Londonderry

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Survey 2:
A

Date of Listing:
26/02/1979 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Shop

Former Use
Shop

Conservation Area:
Yes

Industrial Archaeology:
No

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
36-8NW

IG Ref:
C4345 1661

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Owner Category

Commercial

Exterior Description And Setting

Attached asymmetrical multi-bay five-storey over basement stucco-fronted Edwardian Freestyle purpose-built department store, dated 1907, to the designs of M.A. Robinson, with octagonal plan six-storey corner tower. Largely rectangular on plan facing northwest onto The Diamond with a matching elevation facing northeast onto Ferryquay Street. Steeply pitched natural slate roof with terracotta ridge tiles set behind a series of pedimented wall-head dormers. Painted stuccoed walling with Giant Ionic order columns on pedestals, bowed and balustraded balconettes and curved oriel windows. Round-headed, elliptical-headed and square-headed window openings with deep moulded architrave surrounds and flanking columns having hardwood display windows with Art Nouveau tracery and colonettes. Principal northwest elevation is three windows wide with a central full-height elliptical-headed window opening surmounted by a keystone with raised digits ‘1907’ projecting from the base of the central balconette. The balustraded balconette fronts the central dormer having an elaborate swan-neck pediment. At second floor level is a central three-sided pedimented hardwood bay window. At first floor level are three curved oriel windows with timber balustrades resting on the angled fascia of the mid-twentieth-century glazed shopfront below. Octagonal plan six-storey tower to the corner with Doric and Ionic columns flanking the window openings surmounted by a fish-scale copper cupola with oeil-de-boeuf lucarnes and tapered copper spirelet with ball finial. Secondary northeast elevation is two windows wide with a full-height elliptical-headed window opening, detailed as per front elevation, occupying much of the elevation (the keystone stating ‘EsTd/1830’). Southeast side elevation abutted by adjoining building No.7 Ferryquay Street, with plain rendered walling. Southwest side elevation is abutted by adjoining building No.26 The Diamond, having plain rendered walling. Setting: Prominently sited at the south east corner of The Diamond, between Bishop Street Within and Ferryquay Street, with façades dominating the square and corner tower rising to form a landmark node at this elevated part of the city. Roof Natural slate RWG None visible Walling Painted stucco Windows Hardwood display

Architects

Robinson, M. A

Historical Information

Austin’s Department Store, a five-storey Edwardian commercial building, was built in 1906; the current structure was erected after the previous building on the site burned down in 1903. Austin’s proudly claims to be the oldest family-owned department store in the world, having been established in Londonderry in 1830 and so predating Harrod’s Department Store in London by 15 years and Macys’s Department Store in New York by 25 years. The history of the store on Austin’s website notes that the first store, which was a simple draper’s business, was established in the Diamond by Thomas Austin but there is no record of a commercial building occupied by Austin along either The Diamond, Bishop Street or Ferryquay Street, in either the Townland Valuations (1831) or Griffith’s Valuation (1856). The first record of Austin’s store on The Diamond is in 1880 when the Annual Revisions listed a premises occupied by George S. Austin and a Mr. William Anderson; this store was located at the corner of The Diamond and Bishop Street, a short distance from the current building. The Ulster Town Directories for 1880 note that this store was known as ‘Anderson & Austin,’ and described the partnership as local woollen drapers, haberdashers, dressmakers and general clothiers (Ulster Town Directories). The Annual Revisions note that the current site at the corner of The Diamond and Ferryquay Street was acquired by George S. Austin in 1883 (William Anderson appears to have left the partnership by that date); in that year Austin converted a former dwelling into a commercial warehouse and store, subsequently increasing the value of the property from £65 to £120. Austin & Co., which continued to operate predominantly as a drapery and tailors firm, occupied a number of three-storey Georgian buildings which can been seen in late-Victorian photographs of The Diamond (see Foyle Civic Trust). These earlier buildings were completely destroyed after a fire swept through them in 1903 (the fire also caused considerable damage to the Corporation Hall at the centre of The Diamond). The current Edwardian building was built from the ashes of the modest former drapery store. Matthew Alexander Robinson (1872-1929), a local architect and engineer, was responsible for the design which Dixon believes ‘combined all that was good about late-Victorian streetscaping and all that was exciting and inventive in Edwardian decoration … a six-storey [sic] tower with fish-scale dome … with highly ornate flowing decoration.’ The new store was one of the few major commercial developments to be undertaken outside of Belfast in the late-Victorian and Edwardian period. Dixon states that Austin’s was contemporary to Belfast structures such as the Ocean Buildings and the Scottish Mutual Building; an excellent example of ‘Edwardian Freestyle [where] historic details from a wide range of sources were adapted, mixed or used in inappropriate positions – and all for the sake of the whole effect’ (Dixon, p. 182; DIA). The newly completed building was valued at £225 upon its completion in 1907; this was increased to £395 by the cancellation of the Annual Revisions in 1929. Under the First Revaluation (1935) the value of the building was further increased to £802 10s., and by the end of the Second Revaluation (1956-72) the value of Austin’s & Co., stood at £1,480. In 1970 the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society described Austin’s & Co., which had become a general department store by that time, as an ‘imaginative, flamboyant design, with bold modelling which admirably expresses the function of the place … the building is finished externally in smooth rendering … internally, the main feature of the plan is the open well going through the three floors of the building, with the sales floors on three sides at each level’ (UAHS, p. 20); Austin’s Department Store was included in the Historic City Conservation Area in 1977 and was subsequently listed in 1979. The NIEA HB Records note that the three-storey extension to the rear of the department store was erected in 1992 whilst repairs were made to the external façade of the building in 1994 and 2003. The distinctive open well atrium of the building has been lost due to the installation of modern escalators, but the original grand mahogany staircase between the floors has been retained. Austin’s Department Store continues to occupy the current building, although the firm is no longer owned by the Austin’s who sold the company to the Hasson family in 1976 (NIEA HB Records; Austin’s website). References Primary Sources 1. PRONI VAL/12/E/157/1/15 – Annual Revisions Town Plan (c. 1873) 2. PRONI VAL/2/B/5/16A-D – Griffith’s Valuation (1856) 3. PRONI VAL/12/B/32/11A-11ZD – Annual Revisions (1860-1897) 4. PRONI VAL/12/B/33/1A-1B – Annual Revisions (1897-1929) 5. PRONI VAL/3/B/6/11 – First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1935) 6. PRONI VAL/4/B/5/14 – Second General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1956-72) 7. Ulster Town Directories (1880-1918) 8. First Survey Record – HB01/19/019 (1970) 9. First Survey Image – HB01/19/019 (1975) 10. NIEA Pink Files – HB01/19/019 11. The Foyle Civic Trust Living City Project: The Diamond Photographic Record Secondary Sources 1. Calley, D., ‘City of Derry: An historical gazetteer to the buildings of Londonderry’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 2013. 2. Dixon, H., ‘An introduction to Ulster Architecture’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 2008. 3. Ferguson, W. S; Rowan, A. J; Tracey, J. J., ‘List of historic buildings, groups of buildings, areas of architectural importance in and near the city of Derry’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1970. 4. Lacey, B., ‘Discover Derry’ Londonderry: The Guildhall Press, 2011. 5. Rowan, A. J., ‘The Buildings of Ireland: North West Ulster’ London: Yale University Press, 2003. 6. ‘A design guide for the Historic City Conservation Area Londonderry’ Belfast: Department of the Environment, 2012. Online Resources 1. Dictionary of Irish Architects - http://www.dia.ie/ 2. Austin’s Department Store website - http://www.austinsstore.com/pages/our-history

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 J. Setting

Historic Interest

R. Age S. Authenticity T. Historic Importance V. Authorship W. Northern Ireland/International Interest Z. Rarity

Evaluation

Asymmetric multi-bay five-storey over basement stucco-fronted Edwardian Freestyle purpose-built department store, dated 1907, to the designs of local architect M.A. Robinson, with octagonal plan six-storey corner tower. Austin’s is the oldest family-owned department store in the world, having been established in Londonderry in 1830 and so predating Harrod’s Department Store in London by 15 years and Macys’s Department Store in New York by 25 years. Internally, Austins open plan showcases the survival of its plan form. Key features such as the historical hardwood staircase with decorative newels, balustrades and ramped handrail are retained. Structural columns and pilasters are also well preserved, intact and vital to the quality of the space. Additionally, the Art Nouveau styled windows partake a significant role to the quality of the interior with its curving frame capturing views across the city and its greater setting. This is further complimented with an octagonal bay to the corner with all its historical windows intact. The exterior retains much of its flamboyant detailing including, curved oriel windows, balustraded balconettes and Art Nouveau style windows with deep moulded architrave surrounds. Austins remains as one of the more impressive buildings in the city, dominating The Diamond.

General Comments

Additional listing criteria apply - R - Age, S - Authenticity & T - Historic Importance

Date of Survey

27 February 2014