47-49 Molesworth Street, Cookstown, Co Tyrone, BT80 8NX

47–49 Molesworth Street, Cookstown

This terraced three-storey former Victorian house dates from circa 1877–1878 and forms part of a long row of mixed three-storey buildings constructed in stages between 1850 and 1880, now largely converted to shops, pubs and offices. The building is rectangular in plan with a long rectangular two-storey pitched roof return stretching back to the rear.

The walls are of original sandstone with carved chamfered reveals to openings. The street-fronted north elevation is composed at ground floor of a coach arch to the west, a doorway to the centre, and a replacement shopfront to the east. The panelled doorway has an overlight and is surmounted by a carved panelled stone lintel. The elliptical-headed coach arch features a splayed rusticated stone surround with a central projecting keystone and contains a painted timber double door. The replacement shopfront comprises an aluminium glazed doorway right of centre with an overlight, flanked by a single-light aluminium window to the right and a double-light larger shop window to the left. The shop window sits on a raised brick plinth. Pilasters flank each side of the shopfront, surmounted by decorative floral scrolled console brackets with a carved timber cornice. Above the shopfront is a painted timber signboard with raised modern lettering.

The upper levels contain 1/1 timber sliding sash windows with carved chamfered stone surrounds and painted cut stone sills, displaying classical proportions that reduce towards the upper storeys. The south rear elevation is rendered with 2/2 timber sliding sash windows visible to the upper levels, with the coach arch visible at ground level. The roof is natural slate with a brick chimney featuring profiled stepped capping. Painted cast-iron rainwater goods are present throughout.

The rear service yard is surrounded by a random rubble stone boundary wall at ground level, with a corrugated iron boundary surround extending beyond first-floor height. The building stands in the north-east of the town centre as part of a uniform three-storey terrace.

Nos. 47 and 49 were originally a single property, built in 1877–1878 by John McIlhatton alongside the matching building to the west (present no. 45). The property was initially occupied by McIlhatton Bros., with Arthur and David Black noted as residents by the end of 1878, with a rateable value of £34–15–0 recorded that year. The property was listed as vacant in 1879. William Cunningham became tenant in 1880, followed by John Mayne in 1881. Robert Dickson (who occupied the neighbouring house to the west) took over the lease circa 1888, with George Espey recorded as resident the following year. Andrew and William McVey succeeded Espey in 1901, with William McVey the sole occupant after 1913. William and David McVey are recorded as tenants in 1936, with Mrs. Dickson as leaseholder. Cyrus Brown took up tenancy in 1939, with Joseph Dickson taking over the lease in 1951. Brown acquired the freehold circa 1956–1957 and remained in residence in 1972.

This building presents an interesting variation to the Molesworth Street streetscape. A slight blending in sandstone colour between this building and its neighbour suggests it was not a continuing development; however, when nos. 45, 47 and 49 are viewed together, they reveal a single symmetrical composition with the coach arch at the centre, creating an impressive unified structure. The continuous development of this group represents the increasing affluence and urbanisation of Cookstown following the arrival of the railway. The entire terrace spanning nos. 19–53 Molesworth Street was built over a thirty-year period in many stages, yet has maintained remarkable uniformity. The group value of the terrace is particularly significant to the character of the town centre.