78 Main Street, Moira, Craigavon, Co. Armagh, BT67 0LH

78 Main Street, Moira

A two-storey Georgian townhouse erected around 1735 as part of the early development of Moira, credited to the Rawdon family. The building retains early 19th-century proportions and style and is centrally located on Main Street in close proximity to other historic buildings including the old courthouse. Despite replacement of much original external fabric and loss of most internal fabric, the building has group value with the attached townhouse at number 76 Main Street and makes a positive contribution to the historic value of the town.

The building is a two-storey, two-bay mid-terrace townhouse of rectangular plan form with extensive single-storey returns to the rear. It is located on the north side of the principal thoroughfare through Moira, adjacent to numbers 76 and 80 Main Street. The roofing is pitched natural slate with clay ridge tiles and a clipped verge to the right-hand gable end. One brick chimneystack with no pots sits over the right-hand gable end, and uPVC rainwater goods are installed throughout.

The walling is natural-finished rubble coursed basalt with galletting and 1½ red brick flat arches and surrounds to openings, with a smooth rendered plinth. The windows are double-glazed replacement tripartite and 6/6 sliding sash with horns, painted white, with rectangular stone cills. The front entrance door is a six-panelled timber door with a half-circle fanlight over, set into an arched opening. The door is flanked by stucco pilasters with cornice head and smooth rendered arch and key-block over.

The principal elevation faces south and is asymmetrically arranged with the front door located in the left-hand bay. Tripartite windows are located to ground and first floor on the right-hand side with 6/6 sliding sash over the entrance. One non-illuminated fascia sign is located over the ground floor window. The left gable end abuts number 76 Main Street, part forming the side wall to the adjoining coach entrance. The north-facing rear elevation has a series of lean-to extensions projecting northwards, built at varying times. The original rear openings have been blocked up, and the walling to the rear is natural-finished smooth render. The right gable end abuts number 80 Main Street.

The building faces directly on to the principal road through Moira with direct entrance off the footpath. Access through the adjoining carriageway leads into a rear courtyard of sympathetically constructed commercial properties, which also serves to give rear access to the building.

Historical Background

The building was erected around 1735 during the town's early development in the 18th century. A date stone located in the façade of a neighbouring building is widely accepted to indicate the completion of the village during that period and is dated 1735. Until the Annual Revision records of 1909-20, the building now known as number 78 was included in the valuation of number 76, which at that time was a hotel owned by the Ruddell family from 1891. The Annual Revision records indicate that in 1911 the Ruddells leased part of that hotel (now 78 Main Street) to the Livingston family, who continued to occupy the building until 1928, at which point the tenancy was taken over by Catherine Anthony. The premises at this stage were being valued as a house, outbuildings and a yard.

According to the R.V. Binders Valuations of 1933-57, the house was old but in good repair. A valuer's note from 12 April 1937 describes the property as follows: "Catherine Anthony – supports two orphan children – no income. Old type terrace house on main road (no front garden) with access to back through covered way at side. Contains wide hall, good front reception with modern tiled grate, large back kitchen with 'modern mistress' stove from sc. Lean-to corrugated iron roof, no sink. Down two good bedrooms (old type grates) and small cupboard over hall on first floor. Two attic rooms in delapidated condition and unusable. Water supply from street fountain. No gas or electricity. Small enclosed yard and range of offices in common yard, used for keeping pigs at rear."

There is still evidence of the partial survival of some of the lean-to outbuildings to the rear; however, much of the character of the original house and the outbuildings has been lost over the years due to alterations to both internal and external fabric. At the time of survey in 2010, the building was in use as a bookmakers.