5 Sugarhouse Quay, Newry, Co Down, BT35 6HZ

5 Sugarhouse Quay, Newry

A three-storey, two-bay house of probable late 18th or early 19th century date, orientated east-west with gable frontage to Newry canal at Sugar House Quay. The building is recorded only and has not been listed, as extensive alterations both inside and out have compromised its historic integrity.

The hipped roof is natural slate but now lacks chimneys, and is fitted with half-round asbestos cement gutters. Walls are lined with smooth cement render except for the ground floor of the front gable, which is wet dashed. A low chambered ashlar granite plinth survives at the front, the only remains of the original railings that enclosed the building.

The main entrance is positioned at ground floor right on the front gable. A single granite step leads to a modern metal-sheeted door set within a segmental headed opening with beaded edges. The doorway is framed by jambs of ashlar granite flanked by a pair of three-quarter attached granite Tuscan columns supporting a moulded granite entablature. Above is a segmental headed wrought-iron cobweb fanlight, now with missing panes. To the left of the door, the original window has been enlarged to accommodate a pair of modern metal-sheeted doors, with cement-rendered reveals and flat head. At first and second floor are two modern three-paned timber windows horizontally divided with opening middle sections, set in probably original openings with cement-rendered reveals and concrete cills. Painted signs across the facade above and below the first floor windows advertise a previous occupant.

The rear elevation features a large tripartite window at first floor right, lighting the back room. It comprises a 6/6 sliding sash flanked by 2/2 sashes on either side. An identical window at second floor directly above is now sheeted over. On the left bay, semi-circular headed openings on half landings between ground and first floor and between first and second floor contain modern fixed windows, though the upper opening is now sheeted and without its window. At ground floor right, the building is abutted by a one-storey artificial slate lean-to shed containing a central heating boiler with a metal flue rising from its roof. A modern door into the main block has replaced the original back room window.

The building is abutted on the left by a double-pile warehouse and on the right by a lower rebuilt house. The extreme left side of the rear wall was formerly abutted by a two-storey building, now demolished.

The building is cited in the 1836 Valuation Book and measured 39 feet 6 inches by 24 feet 6 inches by 35 feet, indicating it has remained largely unaltered in terms of size. The site lies within a conservation area.