Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB26/13/006 A

Address :
Cabin Hill Preparatory School Upper Newtownards Road Belfast Co Down BT4 3HS

Townland:
Ballycloghan

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Survey 2:
B2

Date of Listing:
07/03/2002 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
School

Former Use
School

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
No

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
130-15

IG Ref:
J3909 7411

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Owner Category

School

Exterior Description And Setting

Relatively large and much extended two-four storey school, built around a sandstone Tudor Revival gentleman’s residence of c.1860, itself extended in similar style in c.1903-5, with a large overtly modern style flat roofed four storey rendered block added to the rear by the school in 1946 with adjacent, equally large and equally modern, brick wing of c.1980. The building is situated on a slight rise at the end of a winding tree lined drive to the N of the Upper Newtownards Road. To the NE of the main building there is another modern class room complex, with playing fields to N. The S facing front elevation has a complex asymmetric appearance. To the left (W) is the original Tudor Revival residence of c.1860, to the right the c.1903-05 extension. Both are linked by a recessed central portion, (which belongs to the original section), with a large single storey PVC conservatory spanning the area created by the recess. The Tudor Revival sections are both in light-coloured squared sandstone and have typical elements of the genre including high pitched slated roof, gables with corbelled ends, mullioned windows, label moulding and tall chimney stacks etc. The conservatory (which is part of the 1903-5 extension) was originally in timber. Many of the windows to the former ‘house’ section have what appear to be early 20th century timber frames with steel frame insets. To the centre of the elevation, between the two projecting sections is the single storey PVC conservatory which also serves as the front entrance porch. To the centre of this is a slightly projecting entrance bay with the glazed door with plain sidelights and a plain ‘pedimented’ gable. To either side are three tall windows with louvered top lights. The roof appears to be polycarbonate sheeting. The conservatory covers the inner double front doors which are glazed with small timber panels to the lower section. To either side is a pointed arch headed window with plain frame and ‘square’ drip moulding with label stops. To first floor of the recessed section (above the conservatory) is a centred and slightly projecting gable with window with four-pane (mullioned and transomed) frame. To either side is a small window, that to the right side being slightly wider. Both have modern frames. The section to the left (the original house) has a centred window (previously the entrance door to the house) set in a single storey porch with castellated parapet. The opening has a pointed (Tudor) arch head. The left corner has a small ‘diagonal buttress’. To first floor above the porch is a window with a drip moulding with label stops. To the right is a projecting full height gabled bay with a further canted single storey bay to ground floor with a hipped stone roof. To the first floor is a six-pane window. A wrought iron finial tops the apex of the gable. To the left of the porch is a further six pane window with a four pane window above. These windows both sit in a narrow, slightly projecting gabled bay which has a wrought iron finial to the apex. To the right of the conservatory is the large c.1903-5 extension, which (as stated above) is similar style to the original portion but taller and in a slightly more roughly dressed sandstone. To the right of this section is a projecting gabled bay with a canted flat roofed bay window. The windows to the front are separated by stone mullions and are all two pane. Centred above the bay is a large three light window with stone mullions. Each light has two panes and with a drip moulding and label stops over, as well as a relieving arch. To the apex of the gable is a small opening, with louvered frame and drip moulding with label stops. The gable has a wrought iron finial. To right of the bay is a window as previous The light to the centre has two panes while those to left and right have four panes. To first floor is a similar window A projecting stone string course extends across to complete S elevation. To the E face of the original section (i.e. the section of façade overlooking the conservatory) there is a window with three pane frame, set just below a large finial topped gable. To the W face of the c.1903-5 section (again, overlooking the conservatory), there is a similar window. To the roof above there is a small flat roofed dormer. To the left side of the E elevation is a large gable. To the ground floor of this is a single storey flat roofed bay, as front right. To the right of this are two small two pane windows. To the left side of the first floor is a triple light mullioned window as front right. To the right is a glazed and timber clad walkway which spans between this and the adjoining building. To the right of the walkway is a canted ‘oriel’ bay with stone corbelled base and stone hipped roof. To front of this there is a two light mullioned window with single lights to the side; all have two panes. To the second floor there are three quite wide windows; which look like later insertions; all have modern steel window frames. The gable merges with a higher wall section on the right. To the right (N) side of the E elevation is a very large four storey flat roofed extension which was added in 1946 and is overtly modern in style with rendered façade long unbroken lines of steel framed windows, glass bricks etc. A large portion of the 1903-5 section was demolished to make way for this extension. The extension sits slightly forward of the original E elevation To its left side is a recessed double door opening with a [?Portland] stone surround. Directly above is a projecting ‘frame’. This rests on a concave bracket which is inscribed with the date of construction (1946) and moulded school crest. There are three recessed glazed panels each comprising of clear glass bricks set in a mullioned and transomed concrete frame. Between the first and second and second and third glazed panels are recessed rock faced sandstone panels which are also recessed. The glazing lights the stair well and therefore sits at the half landings levels. The right are three windows each of which are ‘framed’ with fine projecting concrete edging. Each opening holds five vertical steel frames the centre of which has a small top hung opener. There are three similar windows to the first floor while the second floor and third floors have wide ribbon glazing. This is also framed has a series of broad concrete mullions. There are nine windows each of which has two tall panes with two small panes over. There is a wide concrete overhang the soffit of which is splayed in. The W elevation of the original (c.1860) portion of the building id double gabled. The left gable projects slightly. To its ground floor is a (centred) single storey canted bay, with stone hipped roof, as S front of this section. To the first floor of this gable is a window with four pane frame. To the right gable there is a four pane window to the ground floor and a canted oriel window to first floor, supported on a stone corbel and with a stone hipped roof, all as previous canted bay. Each gable has a wrought iron finial. The moulded string course (see front elevation) continues across this façade. The N elevation of the original c.1860 house has a relatively large rendered lean-to extension with two large modern-looking windows. To first floor (original façade) there are three windows, with that to left much smaller. The rear elevation has an untidy complex appearance, a legacy of successive 20th century extending and alterations. To the left side of is the large 1946 extension. To the right is a later (?1980s) three-storey flat roofed brick extension. The latter extension was added to the rear of a large two storey gabled return with rendered façade and slated roof, which is probably largely c.1903. The yard between the two rear extensions has a wall with a double door. To the ground floor of the 1946 section there are two ‘framed’ windows (as E façade of this section), that to the left has one large pane with to small top lights while that to the right has four tall panes each with a top light. There are two similar windows to the first floor, as before, but each has four top lights over four tall lower windows. Second and third floors each has wide ribbon glazing with three mullioned windows to either side of a broad central mullion. The W elevation of the 1940s extension faces into the narrow yard. To the ground floor are seven small windows. Which are unevenly spaced. To the first floor there are seven similar windows five evenly spaced to the left and two to the right. To the second floor there are three such windows to the left while to the right there is a fire escape door which opens on to a steel walkway which connects the 1940s extension with the gabled return extension. The walkway has a mid point change of level which reconciles the difference in floor levels between the two extensions. To the right of this are two broader windows. To the third floor there is a steel fire escape stair which ‘zigzags’ down to ground level to exit within the rear yard. The narrow exposed section of the N wall of the 1903-5 is much obscured by the fire escape steel work but has at least one window to both first and second floors. The E face of the large gabled return / extension (which faces into the yard) is much obscured by the yard wall but appears to have two small flat roofed extensions to ground floor. To first floor left there is a wider window with three narrower ones to the right and a further wide one to the right. To the second floor there are four wider windows to the left side and the fire escape walkway to the right and one further window to the right. To the roof there is a large flat roofed dormer. To the right of this is a small barrel-vaulted dormer with a lead covered roof. To N end of the return the right (outside the yard) is the 1980s extension. This is slightly recessed. The junction between this and its neighbour is articulated with a vertical glazed strip. The first floor is raised on stilts which give a completely open (but covered) ground floor. To the centre of the first and second floors is a centred modern window. The N face has six evenly spaced modern windows to the first and second floors. The brick panel below each window is slightly recessed giving the effect that each window is framed with pilasters. The concrete floors and roof are expressed as horizontal concrete bands. The of the older return is mainly obscured by the 1980s extension but the gable rises above the flat roof and has a small bell cote above a square faced clock. The W face of the 1980s extension is much as the E face. To the right is the W face of the large return. To the left are two windows to the ground floor and two similar windows to the first floor. To the right is a tall cluster of large stainless steel flue pipes. To the right again is a three-storey section with a large window to each floor. The second floor window is slightly smaller and sits within a flat roofed half-dormer. These windows sit at the ‘half landing’ level. To the right of the three storey section are two windows to the ground and two to first floor, as before. To the right is a large gable with a large multi paned corbelled window (to the main stair). As stated above all the gabled and pitched sections of the roof are slated, with several tall stone brick chimney stacks. The rw goods are mainly cast iron. To the SW of the building is a large flat rounded rock which is said to have been a favourite sitting place of the most famous inhabitant of the original late 18th and early 19th century single storey ‘Cabin Hill’ house, Dr William Drennan.

Architects

Not Known

Historical Information

The name ‘Cabin Hill’ refers to a ‘cabin’ built by in 1786-7 by Samuel and Martha McTier, on a small parcel of land they had acquired for £50. The house itself, as the name implies, was a single storey thatched dwelling, however, a painting of 1847 shows that by the standards of day it had a fairly prosperous appearance, being relatively large and prosperous looking- not the ‘cabin’ one might have expected. After Samuel McTier’s death in 1795, Martha continued to use Cabin Hill as a country retreat, being joined on frequent occasions by her brother, the Belfast radical and founder of the United Irishmen, Dr William Drennan. Drennan died in 1820 and Martha in 1837, however, the property appears to have been disposed of some time before the latter date, for in the 1833 valuation it is recorded as the home of a Mr Tomb. By 1852, it had been acquired by John Dinnen, a Belfast solicitor. Dinnen appears to have retained the original house for some years, for it is shown on the OS map of 1858, however, the high valuation of £22 recorded in 1861 (as opposed to £6-17-0 in 1833) suggests that the new much larger building was in place by this date. This new dwelling, a two storey gentleman’s villa in the Tudor Revival style, remained in possession of Dinnen’s descendants until 1903 when it was acquired by R.J. McMordie, the future Lord Mayor of Belfast. In c.1903-5 McMordie greatly extended the house adding the large section to the eastern side and the new entrance conservatory, all to designs by Hugh Brown. From early 1921 to early 1922 McMordie’s widow leased the property to Sir James Craig. After Craig became Prime Minister of the newly created Northern Ireland in June 1921, some cabinet meetings were held at the house. 1924-25 McMordie’s widow sold Cabin Hill to near by Campbell College, who converted it for use as their preparatory school. In c.1935 the school added a porter’s lodge to the main gateway and in 1946 the large four storey modern style wing was added to the rear of the main building itself. Further separate classrooms were built to the north east side of the building in 1973 with a further modernist extension added to the main school [?c.1980]. References- Primary sources 1 ‘The Drennan-McTier letters’ 1776-1819, ed Jean Agnew [3 vols] (Irish Manuscripts Commission, 1998-99). [The originals of these letters are held at PRONI, ref D.591. The third volume of the letters contains a reproduction of the painting of the original ‘Cabin Hill’ in 1847. The original painting is held by the Ulster Museum.] 2 PRONI VAL/1B/318 First valuation, Holywood parish, 1833 3 PRONI OS/6/3/5/1 OS map 1834, Co Down sh 5 4 ‘Belfast and province of Ulster directory’ 1852- (Belfast, 1852-) 5 PRONI OS/6/3/5/2 OS map c.1858-60, Co Down sh 5 6 PRONI Second valuation, Holywood parish, 1861 7 PRONI VAL/12B/17/2A-M (Valuation) annual revision books, c.1864-c.1900 [These books give no indication of major building work at Cabin Hill between 1864 and the McMordie extension in c.1903-5, suggesting that the original section of the Tudor Revival house is pre 1864.] 8 PRONI OS/6/3/5/3 OS map 1901-2, Co Down sh 5 9 PRONI CAB/4/1/4-10 etc Northern Ireland Cabinet files, June 1921 Secondary sources 1 J.A.K. Dean ‘The gate lodges of Ulster- a gazetteer’ (Belfast, 1994), p.66

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

Not listed

Historic Interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Relatively large and much extended two-four storey school, built around a sandstone Tudor Revival gentleman’s residence of c.1860, itself extended in similar style in c.1903-5, with a large overtly modern style flat roofed four storey rendered block added to the rear by the school in 1946 with adjacent, equally large and equally modern, brick wing of c.1980.

General Comments

Re-numbered from HB26/13/006 as per AT. 11/05/2015.

Date of Survey

13 March 2001