Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB01/22/003 S

Address :
19 Crawford Square Londonderry Co. Londonderry BT48 7HR

Townland:
Edenballymore

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Survey 2:
B2

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

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
House - Terrace

Former Use
School

Conservation Area:
Yes

Industrial Archaeology:
No

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
36-3SE

IG Ref:
C4304 1752

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Owner Category

Exterior Description And Setting

Mid-Victorian end-of-terrace five bay three-storey-over basement rendered former boarding school with attic level built c. 1881-82, most likely to designs by Robert Collins. Rectangular plan form facing northeast with a substantial three-storey return with attic level, altered 2007, accessed from Academy Road. Part of a stepped terrace of sixteen buildings to the southwest side of the tree-lined Crawford Square situated on an elevated site overlooking the River Foyle. Nos. 1-18 are paired, symmetrical terraced houses; no. 19 Crawford Square is treated as a single entity (although attached to no.18 - HB01/22/001R) accessed via a flight of steps over a basement well. Pitched (replacement) slate roof has two large chimney stacks, one rising from the NW gable end and the other rising from the SE side and a smaller chimney off centred to left, all in buff brick with buff clay pots. Timber fascia boards and deep overhanging moulded soffit with small paired block modillions; half round cast iron guttering discharging to circular cast iron downpipe to either end of elevation. Four single-bay semicircular roof dormers with slated cheeks and timber framed 1/1 sliding sash windows set within leaded surround. NORTHEAST ELEVATION - The principal elevation has a three sided canted bay with parapet, rising from basement to first floor level, recessed panels to canted bay between the ground and first storey with moulded sills and strings. Square headed openings to left of entrance steps at basement level have moulded surrounds and segmental arched 1/1 timber sliding sash windows; to right of the steps is a large square headed shop front window with a metal roller shutter and fascia signage topped by a hood mould on small decorative console brackets. Ground, first and second floor bay openings are segmental arched with 1/1 double hung timber sash windows having moulded horns and painted masonry cills; those to ground and first floor have moulded render architraves. Semi-circular arched door case with hood mould on decorative console brackets; replacement vertically sheeted modern timber double entrance doors with a plain glazed fanlight. Front elevation has a four storey extension (added 2007) to the northwest gable end, stepped back from the main elevation and containing one square headed uPVC casement window at each level with moulded architrave surrounds to ground, first and second floors. NORTHWEST ELEVATION - Northwest gable end is abutted by a smooth-rendered stairwell extension stepped back from the front elevation; three-stories high with an attic level; square-headed uPVC casements, one at each floor level directly a square-headed door opening on ground floor level; a hipped roof lift enclosure adjoins its southwest face. SOUTHWEST ELEVATION - Large rear return spanning the length of the site (altered in 2007 to accomodate 4 floors in lieu of 3) with slate hipped roof having modern velux windows; walls are rendered with square headed uPVC casement windows onto a painted sill course all enclosed by a low rendered painted boundary wall. Rear elevation to extension faces onto Academy Road spanning the width of the site with two square headed windows to each level, centred on elevation, all windows are uPVC casements; square headed doorway to basement level, opening directly onto Academy Road. SOUTHEAST ELEVATION - South East elevation is abutted by adjoining property no.18 Crawford Square (HB01.22.003R) SETTING - Located off the Northland Road to the southwest side of Crawford Square on an elevated site within the Clarendon Street Conservation Area. Forming an end-of-terrace to a row of generously scaled townhouses, the principal entrance is approached via a flight of concrete steps (with red brick cheeks) over a basement well, with a further flight of concrete steps to the right of main entrance that lead to the basement. The site is bound by low rendered walling with concrete copings topped by replacement metal railings, all painted. MATERIALS - Roof Replacement Slate RWGs Cast Iron Walling Painted Render Windows Timber Sash (NE), uPVC (Extension, NW & SW)

Architects

Not Known Louch, Fitzgibbon

Historical Information

Crawford Square, a mid-Victorian square located off the Northland Road on a hill overlooking the River Foyle, was originally laid out in 1861. The Dublin Builder records that the square was named after Samuel Law Crawford, a local solicitor who owned the land. Crawford Square was laid out by Fitzgibbon Louch (1826-1911), a civil engineer and architect, during his early career. Louch established an independent practise in Londonderry in 1859, was active in the city until the late-1860s and was responsible for the design of the Magazine Gate entrance to the city walls (Dublin Builder, p. 505; DIA). Following the establishment of the Georgian-style terraces along Great James Street, Queen Street and Clarendon Street in the 1830s-1860s, the city continued its northern expansion with the construction of a number of additional terraces designed for Londonderry’s professional classes. According to Mullin, the Northland Road was still a country road leading from the city to Donegal when the first tenders for the erection of new dwellings on Crawford Square were invited in the 1860s (Mullin, p. 119). Calley states that Crawford Square, ‘along with Templemore and Victoria Parks, can be seen as the city’s delayed response to Dublin’s garden squares [which] created, near to the city centre, a green oasis for its wealthy residents. It has an enclosed central garden bounded on three sides by the square.’ Nos 1-2 Crawford Square were the first houses to be constructed (see HB01/22/003A-B). The pair were erected in 1865 for Samuel Knox, a building contractor, whilst the majority of the adjoining terrace were built for John McAdoo, a local seed merchant and landowner (UTD; Calley, p. 128; 420). No. 19 Crawford Square, a three-storey-over-basement five-bay building, was constructed in in 1881-82. The building is somewhat different from the houses of the adjoining terrace which were designed by Robert Collins, Londonderry’s Consulting Engineer from 1866 to 1874, and constructed by the building firm of G. & R. Ferguson (Irish Builder, p. 85; p. 238; DIA). It is not known if Collins was also responsible for the design of No. 19 Crawford Square although it is clear that the building was designed in a similar style and was intended to fit in with the neighbouring buildings. The building, which is much larger than nos 3-18, was constructed as the new premises of Victoria High School, a girls boarding school that was operated by Jane McKillip and was formerly sited at No. 11 Queen Street (HB01/21/020C). The total rateable value of No. 19 Crawford Square was initially set at £60 but this was raised to £75 in 1888 when the adjoining nos 17-18 Crawford Square were constructed beside it. The Ulster Town Directories note that Victoria High School was operated by Ms McKillip who was ‘assisted by a large class of highly qualified teachers.’ The 1911 Census described the school as a 1st class building that consisted of 35 rooms and possessed a coach house and laundry as its sole outbuildings. The girl’s school accommodated 76 pupils in 1911, the majority of whom boarded at the site. In 1922 Victoria High School amalgamated with St. Lurach’s school to form Londonderry High School but the school continued to operate from No. 19 Crawford Square until the 1950s. The Londonderry Services Club acquired the building in 1950 and converted the former school into a social club. The value of the building was increased to £100 as a result. The Londonderry Services Club continued to occupy the building as a social club until the 1970s. The total rateable value stood at £260 by the end of the Second General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1956-72). In 1970 the UAHS guide for Londonderry described nos 1-19 Crawford Square as ‘a fine terrace of three-storey rendered buildings on a sloping surface overlooking a tree-lined grassy square. The houses are well modelled, with two-storey height bay windows’ (UAHS guide, p. 50). In 1978 Crawford Square was included in the Clarendon Street Conservation Area ‘being an area of special architectural or historic interest, the character of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance’ (Londonderry Clarendon Street Conservation Area Booklet). Nos 1 23 Crawford Square were subsequently listed in 1979. The NIEA HB Records note that the Londonderry Services Club had vacated the site by at least c. 2003 when the building was used by the Derry Catholic Club. In recent years (2006-7) the basement and ground floor levels has been used into a social club and bar; the double gabled rear return has been raised in height to accomodate 4 floor levels in place of the former three and covered with a single hipped roof; a single bay extension has been added to the gable end comprising a stairwell and lift shaft; and the upper floors have been divided into a number of self-contained apartments (NIEA HB Records). References Primary Sources 1. PRONI OS/6/5/20/2 – Second Edition Ordnanec Survey Map (1853) 2. PRONI VAL/12/E/157/1/7 – Annual Revisions Town Plan (c. 1873-1910) 3. PRONI VAL/12/B/32/11A-ZD – Annual Revisions (1860-1897) 4. PRONI VAL/12/B/33/2A-2F – Annual Revisions (1898-1931) 5. PRONI VAL/3/C/6/10 – First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1926-57) 6. PRONI VAL/4/B/5/13 – Second General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1956-72) 7. Dublin Builder (1 May 1861) 8. Irish Builder (1 Apr; 15 Sept 1871) 9. Census of Ireland (1901; 1911) 10. Ulster Town Directories (1843-1918) 11. First Survey Record – HB01/22/003 (1970) 12. First Survey Image – HB01/22/003 (No Date) 13. NIEA HB Records – HB01/22/003S Secondary Sources 1. Calley, D., ‘City of Derry: An historical gazetteer to the buildings of Londonderry’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 2013. 2. 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. 3. Mullin, T. H., Ulster’s Historic City: Derry – Londonderry’ Coleraine: Coleriane Bookshop, 1986. 4. ‘Londonderry Clarendon Street Conservation Area Booklet’ Department of the Environment, 1978. 5. ‘Design Guide for Clarendon Street Conservation Area’ Department of the Environment, 2012. Online Resources 1. Dictionary of Irish Architects - http://www.dia.ie/

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style B. Proportion C. Ornamentation H-. Alterations detracting from building J. Setting

Historic Interest

R. Age S. Authenticity U. Historic Associations X. Local Interest Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance

Evaluation

End-of-terrace Victorian five-bay three-storey-over basement rendered former school; built c.1881-82 at Crawford Square, a formal garden square set out at an angle to Northland Road by civil engineer and architect, Fitzgibbon Louch. Although unconfirmed, the building was probably designed by Robert Collins. Now used as a recreational club with residential flats to upper floors; alterations to the rear return and a side extension diminish the architectural quality to some extent, however the front retains much of its original character, style and proportion. Of social importance to the local community as a former boarding school for girls, No.19 is similar in style to the neighbouring nos. 3-18 Crawford Sq, a stepped row of 14 paired townhouses of similar scale (HB01.22.003C-R inclusive), all overlooking the tree-lined Crawford Square, within the Clarendon Street Conservation Area.

General Comments

Date of Survey

18 August 2014