Gill's Almhouses, 34a - 34b Ellis Street, Carrickfergus, Co Antrim, BT38 8AY

Gill's Almshouses, 34a–34b Ellis Street, Carrickfergus

This late-Georgian terrace of former almshouses retains its essential character to the front elevation. The buildings are historically associated with Alderman Gill, whose will of 1760 made provision for their construction. Although the rear elevations were substantially altered around 1980 and the interior detailing was similarly modified at that time, the almshouses retain architectural interest in the proportion and detailing of their front elevation. They have group value with each other and with the other almshouses at Governor's Place, Carrickfergus.

The buildings form a symmetrical two-bay one-and-a-half-storey terrace, oriented east to west on Ellis Street. Number 34 is the central dwelling in a terrace of three similarly styled almshouses. The pitched roof is finished in natural slate with blue and black clay ridge tiles. Red brick chimneystacks sit upon the party walls, each topped with a terracotta pot. Deep overhanging timber eaves are fitted with plain bargeboards.

The principal (east) elevation faces Ellis Street. The walls are smooth rendered with a roughcast finish to the first floor and corbelled brick eaves. A central entrance is marked by a timber sheeted door with a central glazed pane and original ironmongery, set within a smooth rendered surround. Above the entrance is a rectangular plaque inscribed 'Alderman Gill's / Almshouses. / Erected 1761 Renovated 1904'. The elevation includes square-headed 6 over 6 timber casements with smooth rendered architraves and painted masonry cills. Wall-head dormers surmount windows to each side of the entrance. The left gable is abutted by Number 32, and the right gable by Number 36.

The rear (west) elevation is symmetrical at ground floor, with smooth rendered walls. A central replacement door is flanked by small lean-to boiler houses at each side. Two casement windows stand to each side, the outer windows diminished in size. The first floor contains three 1 over 1 timber casements. The entrance is surmounted by a pitched felted canopy supported on timber brackets. Rainwater goods are uPVC.

The buildings are documented on the first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1832. By the third edition map of 1902, they are captioned 'Gills Almshouses'. Griffith's Valuation of 1860 records three houses and gardens on the plot, each occupied by lodgers and leased from 'Gills Trustees'. Each property was valued at £3 10s. A note records these as 'free houses and gardens from the trustees of Gills Charity', with the Valuer's personal observation recommending exemption status.

While the plaque on the building states the almshouses were erected in 1761, historical sources suggest a later construction date. According to Gill's Charity Minute Book and the Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Carrickfergus, as referenced by Brett, the almshouses were built circa 1820 as six houses (or three double houses) under the provisions of Alderman Henry Gill's 1760 will. They first opened for pensioners on 23rd October 1820. Alderman Gill's conditions for residency stipulated that occupants were not "inclined or given to idleness, or Drunkenness" and were "remarkable for their inoffensiveness". The almshouses were restored in 1904 and underwent recent restoration in 1980 by the James Butcher Housing Association. The buildings are currently in use as housing, operated by a housing association.