Survey Data
Reg No
40815048
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic, Social, Technical
Original Use
House
Historical Use
Ballroom/dance hall/disco
In Use As
Community centre
Date
1840 - 1880
Coordinates
234856, 432171
Date Recorded
30/10/2008
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Attached three-bay three-storey house, c.1860. Extended, 1957, with canopied shopfront inserted to ground floor to accommodate alternative use. One of a pair with the building adjoining to the south-east (see 40815047). Pitched natural artificial slate roof with render eaves cornice, clayware ridge tiles, brick chimneystack to the north-west gable end, having rendered coping over and with cast-iron rainwater goods; flat-roof to return. Flat-metal roof to canopy surmounted by metal letters reading "PLAZA". Painted smooth rendered walls with raised smooth rendered margin to the north-west corner. Square-headed window openings with smooth rendered surrounds render entablatures over first floor window openings, and with two-over-two pane timber sliding sash windows. Aluminium shopfront in polished stone surround to ground floor incorporating square-headed window openings with fixed-pane display windows, and glass doors. Ballroom to extension to rear having mezzanine level, balconies, and spring-loaded maple-wood dance floor. Street-fronted to the centre of Buncrana.
Appraisal
Despite alterations at ground floor level, and the construction of a large ballroom, this fine building of mid to late nineteenth-century appearance retains much of its early character and form to the upper floors. Its visual appeal and integrity is enhanced by the retention of original fabric to the upper floors including timber sliding sash windows and natural slate roof. The upper floors are enlivened by the render surrounds to the openings, particularly those to the first floor openings with entablatures over, and by the render eaves cornice. This building was originally built as part of an unsymmetrical pair with the adjoining property to the south-east (see 40815047) and, together, these two buildings create an imposing landmark in the streetscape to the centre of Buncrana. It is also a structure that has an important place in the social history of the town; it has been altered over the years in response to the demands of each generation and is presently in use as a community hall.