18-20 James Street, Cookstown, Co Tyrone, BT80 8LW

18-20 James Street, Cookstown

A three-storey end of terrace shop dating to around 1850, situated on the east side of James Street in the centre of Cookstown. The building was extensively altered and modernised during the 1980s-90s, losing much of its original architectural character both externally and internally.

The front elevation faced roughly west and was asymmetrical. The ground floor had been completely rebuilt with marble-like cladding and raised quoins, replacing all original shop front elements. A flat arch carriage entrance occupied the left side, with a large replacement shop front and roller shutter to the right. The upper storeys were finished in painted lined render with raised in-out quoins. The first floor contained three unevenly spaced windows with simple rendered surrounds and replacement top-hung frames dating to around the 1970s-80s, with what appeared to be replacement concrete cills. The second floor had a similar but smaller window arrangement, retaining original painted stone cills. The south-facing gable matched the upper portion of the front elevation. Small windows with timber sash frames occupied the right side at first and second floor levels; the second floor window retained Georgian panes of possibly six over three lights, while the first floor window was plain.

To the rear, the building had been greatly extended, with the original return largely obscured by large additions including two-storey extensions to north and south and a substantial warehouse-like two-storey extension to the east. The rear elevation presented an untidy, utilitarian appearance finished in plain unpainted cement render or roughcast. The extensions were largely devoid of openings except for metal-sheeted doors on the ground floors and a timber door to the upper floor accessed by a timber open-tread staircase with iron handrail. Two window openings existed on the south side of the south extension. Most original openings to the rear of the main building had been blocked or obscured by extensions. Some openings survived on the right-hand side of the rear façade: the carriage entrance at ground floor, two first-floor windows, and a larger second-floor window. The second floor window retained dilapidated remains of a plain timber sash frame, while the first floor featured a Georgian-paned timber sash frame of six over six lights to the left and a plain timber sash frame to the right.

The main section had a gable-ended roof covered in artificial slate, with chimneys removed. The extensions carried pitched roofs partly covered in corrugated iron and partly in artificial slate. The carriage entrance had a metal gate of 1980s-90s date, with cement-rendered walls and boarded ceiling, portions of which had deteriorated.

Historical records show the site was undeveloped on valuation town plans of circa 1835-38 but was indicated as a building by circa 1859-60. The property appears to have been constructed between 1838 and 1860, most likely around 1850. In 1860 it was recorded as a house and offices valued at £26, with Andrew Campbell listed as occupant and James Gunning and James Moore as owners. The Campbell family occupied the property until 1924. Ownership passed to Michael N. Donnelly in 1908 and Andrew Campbell in 1912. Between 1924 and 1936 Charles Mackle held both ownership and occupation, followed by William John McAuley leasing from Mackle from 1936 until at least 1957. In the 1980s and 1990s the building was in the hands of Mr Conway. Pre-1950s valuations made no mention of a shop, but a historic building survey from the 1970s indicated a shop had existed since the late 19th or early 20th century. The building was demolished in early 2006.