Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB03/12/002 C

Address :
3 Babington Terrace Castlerock Co. Londonderry BT51 4RD

Townland:
Freehall Watson

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Survey 2:
B2

Date of Listing:
22/06/1977 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
House - Terrace

Former Use
House - Terrace

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
No

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
12-02SW

IG Ref:
C7715 3615

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Owner Category

Exterior Description And Setting

A two-bay three-storey blackstone mid-terrace house, built c.1860 and located to the south side of Main Street in Castlerock. Square plan with three-storey flat-roof return to rear. Pitched natural slate roof with angled ridge tiles; red-brick chimneystack having terracotta pots. Cast-iron ogee rainwater goods on projecting eaves with uPVC fascia. Walling is uncoursed squared blackstone; smooth render to return. Windows are replacement uPVC in painted brick surrounds with projecting painted sills. North-facing with two openings to each floor; ground floor window opening is aligned left of centre. To left is a round-headed doorcase comprising replacement four-panelled timber door flanked by fluted jambs and surmounted by a replacement fanlight; all in a painted brick surround. The east elevation is abutted by adjoining building; HB03/12/002B. The south elevation has window to upper floors at left. Abutted at right by the flat-roof return with window at each floor. To ground floor left is a small modern flat-roof extension containing uPVC double doors. The west elevation is abutted by adjoining building; HB03/12/002D. Setting: Situated along Main Street in Castlerock village facing north. Set back from the road with concrete to front enclosed by original rubblestone garden wall. Roof: Natural slate Walling: Uncoursed squared blackstone Windows: Upvc RWG: Cast-iron

Architects

Not Known

Historical Information

Babington Terrace was built in 1862/3 by developer Richard Babington and is first shown on the third edition OS map dating from 1904. Castlerock, formerly part of the Clothworker’s Company estates, developed along a coastal site near Downhill House following the opening of a railway halt in 1853 (McCutcheon). This, along with active promotion by the railway company, who offered cheap tickets to those who would build or buy villas (Girvan), led to the growth of a bathing resort in an area which had previously been open countryside. (Eccles) From 1860 Frederick William Porter was architect to the Clothworkers’ Company, on whose estates the terrace was situated, and it is possible that he produced designs for the terrace as part of the Company’s development of the area although Sir Henry Hervey Bruce, the local landlord, also took a particular interest in the development of Castlerock and required all new building there to be of a certain quality and size. (www.dia.ie; Eccles) The current terrace first enters valuation records as unfinished buildings in 1862. Numbers two, three and four were the first to be completed in 1863 with number one appearing shortly afterwards. All the houses were valued at £11 and Richard Babington is initially listed as the occupier but the houses are then taken over by ‘lodgers’ and leased from Sir Henry Hervey Bruce who bought out the Clothworkers Company lands in the 1870s (Eccles). The first occupier to be noted in the current house was William Jackson in 1878, followed by Alexander McKillop (1891), Mrs Connor (1893), William Kirkpatrick (1898) and Thomas A Perry in 1908. At the time of the 1911 census Thomas A Perry, carpenter, was living at the house with his Scottish wife. William J Swan took over the house in 1928 and was followed by a succession of tenants. Valuer’s notes of the 1930s list the accommodation as a two receptions and a kitchen on the ground floor, and four bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs. The rent was £2.13s.4d yearly. Attached plans show a return and outbuildings in the yard to the rear. The terrace was listed in 1977. (HB file) References: Primary Sources 1. PRONI OS/6/5/2/1 First Edition OS Map 1831 2. PRONI OS/6/5/2/2 Second Edition OS map 1848 3. PRONI OS/6/5/2/3 Third Edition OS Map 1904 4. PRONI OS/6/5/2/4 Fourth Edition OS Map 1923 5. PRONI VAL/12/A/5/4 Valuer’s Notes 1907 6. PRONI VAL/12/B/30/10A-F Annual Revisions (1864-1929) 1. PRONI VAL/3/C/6/2 First General Revaluation 1933-57 2. PRONI VAL/3/D/6/3/H/6 First General Revaluation 1933-57 7. HB file – 03/12/002A-D Secondary Sources 1. Eccles, J “Downhill, A Scrapbook of People and Place” London: Bath Press, 1996 2. Girvan, W D “Historic Buildings, Groups of Buildings, Areas of Architectural Importance in North Derry including Limavady, Ballykelly, Castlerock, Downhill and Magilligan” Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1975 3. McCutcheon, W.A. “The Industrial Archaeology of Northern Ireland,” London: HMSO, 1980. 4. www.dia.ie

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

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

Historic Interest

R. Age X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A two-bay three-storey blackstone mid-terrace house, built c.1860 and located to the south side of Main Street in Castlerock. Refurbishment has resulted in the loss of historic fabric, including original fenestration, which degrades the character of the building. Despite this, as one of four there is group value, and the terrace, along with the neighbouring Clifton Terrace (HB03/12/002E-G), makes a significant contribution to the historic quality and character of Castlerock. The rubblestone garden wall to front adds to the quality of the setting.

General Comments

Date of Survey

25 July 2012