67 Bridge Street, Banbridge, Co Down, BT32 3JL

67 Bridge Street, Banbridge

A three-storey five-bay end-of-terrace former town house built around 1870, located at the north end of Bridge Street on the east side, forming part of a terrace opposite the junction with Downshire Road. The building has a rectangular plan with a rear return and sits directly adjacent to the River Bann.

The principal east-facing elevation displays ruled-and-lined painted rendered walling with raised flush quoins. A pitched natural slate roof with clay ridge tiles sits above, with a cement rendered chimney and replacement uPVC rainwater goods. The fenestration comprises 2/2 timber sliding sash windows with horizontal glazing bars and horns to the right two bays, and 1/1 windows to the left three bays. All windows have moulded surrounds and painted masonry cills. A replacement timber front door with glazed upper portion occupies the far left, flanked by side lights with aprons and overlights, all featuring decorative colour leaded lights. At ground floor right sits a former shop front serving what was originally a coach entrance. Five first floor windows run across the elevation, with slightly diminished second floor windows directly above. The left gable is abutted by the adjoining building.

The rear elevation is asymmetrically arranged. A three-storey subservient gable-ended return projects to the left bay at matching eaves level but with a lower ridge. Full height glazing and doors to the former coach entrance occupy the ground floor left, with further replacement doors beneath a full width slated timber framed canopy. The right gable is blank. Varying first and second floor windows to the rear appear to be original. Much of the building's proportions and character survive, although the ground floor has been altered. Some evidence of significant historic fabric and detailing remains, and it forms part of a group of buildings representing the staged development of this end of the town.

The building does not appear on the 1860 Ordnance Survey map, which records a shambles formerly occupied the site. No. 67 was constructed around 1870 in a Georgian style to complement the adjoining terrace, first appearing in the Annual Revisions of 1872 and on the contemporary valuation town plan. Initially valued at £35, it was let by Samuel Hill of Solitude House to Francis Hutchinson, a local cabinet maker. By 1874 it had passed to James Hutchinson, Francis's relative, who operated James Hutchinson & Sons Cabinet makers from the premises. Following James Hutchinson's death in 1880, the property came into possession of George Bunting around 1888. After Samuel Hill's death in 1891, ownership passed to his widow Louisa Hill, and John Murphy occupied the house that year. Murphy, a coal merchant, added a store to the rear in 1904, the same year that McWilliam & Wallace, a local solicitors firm, occupied the ground floor shop (valued at £7 10s.) and the first and second floors were converted to a public reading room and museum (also valued at £7 10s.). The 1901 Census noted Murphy resided there with his family despite the alternative uses. A Census Building Return described the property as a 2nd class commercial dwelling with six rooms and numerous outoffices to the rear, including two stables and three stores serving Murphy's coal business. By 1915 McWilliam & Wallace had vacated, Murphy reclaimed the ground floor, and the residence and shop were revalued together at £32. The reading room and museum on the upper floors continued to be valued separately and continued to operate until at least 1930. Murphy resided at the property until the mid-1920s, when he relocated to recently acquired Ballyvally House; he died in 1926 as a Justice of the Peace for Banbridge. Richard Crozier occupied the building following Murphy's death and remained until the end of the Annual Revisions in 1930. Photographs from around 1910 show the building formerly possessed a coach arch on its south elevation, visible on the 1969-70 Ordnance Survey map. The building was listed in 1977 and continues to be used as commercial premises, though it was vacant at the time of survey.