Site of former nos. 5-9 Townsend Street, Strabane, Co Tyrone

This is the site on the southwest side of Townsend Street, Strabane, County Tyrone, formerly occupied by a group of three two-storey terraced dwellings built between 1910 and 1913 and demolished some time after 1983. The vacant ground has since been landscaped along the banks of the Mourne River.

The First Survey description recorded on 11 February 1970 described the buildings as later 19th-century in character, comprising three two-storey houses with lined rendered walls and slated roofs. The chimneys were either rendered or of brickwork. Drop-hung sash windows, each divided into two panes by a single vertical glazing bar, were set within plain architraves in nos. 5 and 7, while the windows of no. 9 were framed by square moulded architraves with faceted keystones at ground-floor level. The entrance to no. 9 was flanked by channelled and panelled pilasters reaching up to architrave blocks, a frieze and a pediment. The rectangular fanlights throughout were plain.

The site is shown as developed on the Ordnance Survey map of 1833–34. The town plan of Strabane drawn up to accompany the valuation of 1832–34 has unfortunately been lost, making it very difficult to trace the buildings on the site at that date with any certainty. A reading of the valuation book suggests that much of Townsend Street at that time was made up of modest single or one-and-a-half-storey dwellings, some possibly dating from the 18th century, and most probably vernacular in character, judging by the valuers' quality-letter grading system.

The plan accompanying the second valuation of 1857 shows two houses on the site. The property to the northwest was occupied by a James McKinley, leasing from a Charles Dunne, while the property to the southeast was in the hands of an Elizabeth Read, leasing directly from the Abercorn Estate. The valuers recorded no dimensions or quality letters for either building, but the low rateable values of £1 15s and £1 10s strongly suggest that both were single-storey structures, and as such were probably those already shown on the 1830s Ordnance Survey map.

James McKinley continued to occupy the northwestern dwelling until 1867–68, when he was succeeded by William McMemanin (1867–68 to 1873), who was in turn followed by William Graham. In 1892, William Graham divided his property into two, renting one dwelling to a Hannah Walsh and the other to a John Haynes (possibly Hoynes). Two new tenants, Andy McPhelomy and Bernard White, followed in 1896, and Hugh Hoynes and William Gallagher in 1907. By 1913, the valuers recorded that both of these dwellings had been replaced by two new houses with brick walls, slate roofs, and gas and water supply. The main section of each was noted as measuring 16 feet by 22 feet by 19 feet high, with a return of 8½ feet by 7 feet by 10 feet high, a small appendage — probably a water closet — of 6 feet by 3 feet by 9 feet high, and a small open structure of wood and corrugated iron, possibly a coal bunker, measuring 6 feet by 6 feet. Both new houses, numbered 5–7 Townsend Street at that stage, were probably built by a Michael Branigan, who had succeeded William Graham as immediate lessor in 1907.

The first recorded occupant of the newly built no. 5 was Charles Lynch. Ellen Lynch followed in 1925 and remained there until 1963, when Andy McCrorey acquired the freehold; McCrorey was still in residence in 1972. Thomas Toorish (possibly Tourish) was the first resident of no. 7, from 1914 to 1920, followed by Margaret Quinn, who was still occupying the property in 1972.

The house to the southeast — latterly no. 9 Townsend Street — remained in the hands of the Elizabeth Read mentioned in the 1857 valuation until 1871. She was followed by Charles Noble, and then by Christopher Noble in 1904. In 1910, the valuers noted that the property had been raised and re-slated, and now measured 25 feet by 19½ feet by 19 feet high, with a small wood and corrugated-iron extension to the rear measuring 7 feet by 3 feet by 7 feet high, and a freestanding shed of 9 feet by 12 feet by 7 feet high. Christopher Noble continued to occupy this extended dwelling until 1937–38, when he was succeeded by Patrick Crawford. In 1946, the property was acquired from the Abercorn Estate by Messrs. M. Branigan Ltd. — who by that time also held nos. 5–7 — and was leased to a George Quinn, who was still in residence in 1972.

The long terrace to which nos. 5, 7 and 9 belonged was demolished some time after 1983, and the site along the banks of the Mourne River was subsequently landscaped.