Plan to rebuild historic house in Armagh 64 years after fire

ONE of Armagh’s most historic buildings could be brought back to life as a restaurant more than 60 years after it was destroyed in a fire.

Dunarm Ltd has submitted plans to rebuild the former 43 Upper English Street building, which was known as No.1 Seven Houses and built in 1774 by a bishop for his siblings.

Dean Avernell of Armagh was said to have invested in the terraces so his sisters would always have a house of their own.

Over the years the buildings changed hands. Today they are occupied by offices, a restaurant and B&B among other businesses. One of the B+ listed houses is still a residential property.

Now, over half-a-century on from the demolition of No.1 Seven Houses, plans have been submitted to rebuild it for use as a restaurant and apartments.

In its application, Dunarm Ltd said: “These buildings are part of our city fabric today forming part of a street scene based on a line of properties... However only six remain and the seventh (No.1) and the most important house within the terrace was damaged in a fire in December 1955 which gutted the building completely.”

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council said that No.1 Seven Houses was leased to the Ministry of Labour in the 1950s and was the local Labour Exchange.

At the time of the fire the then curator of the County Museum, TGF Patterson, said: “Public opinion in Armagh city was deeply shocked by a decision to demolish No.1, the Seven Houses and destroy the facade of a terrace of Seven Houses of architectural merit and important historical associations.”

A News Letter article the day following the blaze revealed that 300 Armagh men were due to collect unemployment benefit in the building. It also said the receiving office of the Newry Steam Laundry occupied the basement of No.1.

It has been reported that Seven Houses are on a priority list for investment as part of a £6.3m Armagh Townscape Heritage Initiative.

The five-year regeneration project will see 28 notable underused buildings within the city’s protected conservation area brought back into full use.

Funding for successful projects will be provided by both An artist’s impression of the new building (top), the building today (inset), how it originally looked (left) and the building after the fire (right)

❝ There was deep shock at the decision to demolish it and destroy the facade

the initiative and private owners.

Launching the initiative, former Lord Mayor Julie Flaherty said: “We are committed to working hand-in-hand with in-

vestors to help identify gaps in the market where our joint input can be most effective.

“We will work as hard as we can to overcome the challenges

which exist with the knowledge that we, as a council, are custodians not just of heritage sites but also of the built environment borough-wide.”