Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB24/06/041

Address :
House on Portavoe Point 89 Warren Road Portavoe Donaghadee Co Down BT21 0PJ

Townland:
Portavoe

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Survey 2:
Record Only

Date of Listing:

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
House

Former Use
House

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
No

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
116/11

IG Ref:
J5694 8240

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Owner Category

Private

Exterior Description And Setting

Substantial, irregular, and somewhat sprawling two and a half storey house of 1929 with gabled bays, slate cladding and overall slight Domestic Revival feel, but with various large single storey offshoots most of which have the appearance of slightly later, more overtly modern additions, but which are largely original. The property is prominently set on an outcrop of land (‘Portavo Point’) extending from the rocky shoreline roughly 1.5 miles NW of Donaghadee. The building is roughly T-shaped with the large two and a half storey section to S and single storey offshoots to N, E and W. The large main two storey section has a ‘traditional’, slightly ‘Domestic Revival’ appearance with Westmoreland slated gabled roof with overhang and two (off centre) full height gabled bays to the front and one to rear along with a two storey flat roofed rounded bay. The attic level of this portion is also clad in Westmoreland slate with much of the rest of the façade in painted rough cast. There are two main entrances both of which are located within the single storey projections. One is located in the northern projection and this leads (via a small porch) into the main hallway. The second is located in the eastern projection and leads (via the kitchen) into the main hallway. The latter is technically the ‘back door’ but now appears to be used as the main entrance. The N face of the two storey section has one large ground floor window to the right side. The centre of this face is obscured by the northern projection. To the left is a plain modern window set on a wide sill and which is centred on a very shallow bay projection. To the right of the first floor is a projecting bay which has two (paired) gables each with a small centred window. To first floor and centred below each gable is a mullioned window. To the left and right of the window to the left is a small window. To the far left is a large mullioned window which is also centred on a shallow bay projection. The northern projection is mainly flat roofed. To the northern end is a boiler room which has a shallow lean-to roof. To the left side of the E face is a door (within the lean-to section) and the right of this is a large modern window which incorporates a French window. To the far right is the main entrance. To the W face is a similar multi-paned modern window also with a French window. To the right is a small flat roofed projection with a plain door. To the immediate right is a modern window with a painted surround. To the far right are two small windows. The ground floor of the E face of the two storey section is obscured by a full width flat roofed projection. The first floor has two small widely spaced windows. The gable has vertical hung slate and a small mullioned window to the centre, all as before. The N face of the projection has a modern glazed entrance screen (leading into the kitchen). To the NW corner is a circular bay with wrap around mullioned and transomed glazing. The W face of the projection is composed of the side of the circular bay to the left and one large ‘picture’ window to the right. The S face of the projection has a glazed door to the centre which is flanked either side by a modern window To the centre of the S two storey section is a projecting bay the ground floor of which is obscured by a modern PVC conservatory. To the first floor are two widely and evenly spaced windows. The bay is surmounted by a slate clad gable, as before but without attic window, To the left is a large ‘picture window to ground floor and to the first floor is a three frame mullioned window. To the right of the central bay is a two storey flat roofed bay. Ground and first floors each have mullioned windows. The ground floor of the E face of the two storey section is obscured by a full width sun room projection. The first floor has a central window. The gable has a central window and is slated , as before. The sun room is lean-to and has a central projecting segmental bay with a flat roof. The two storey section has overhanging eaves. The flat roofed section also has a roof overhang. All windows are PVC but care was taken (in the two storey section) to fit windows into the mullioned openings. Natural slate roof covering and cast iron rw goods.

Architects

Not Known

Historical Information

This house was built in 1929 for Sir Walter Smiles MP. Smiles died in the ‘Princess Victoria’ disaster of 1952 and the house passed to his daughter, Lady Daisy Fisher, who in turn sold it to the present owner in 1978. References- Primary sources 1 PRONI OS/6/3/2/[?6] OS map, 1939, Co Down 2

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

Not listed

Historic Interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Substantial, irregular, and somewhat sprawling two and a half storey house of 1929 with gabled bays, Westmoreland slate cladding and overall slight Domestic Revival feel, but with various large single storey flat roofed offshoots most of which have the appearance of later, more overtly modern additions, but which are largely original. The property is prominently set on an outcrop of land extending from the rocky shoreline to the NW of Donaghadee. The window frames are now all PVC

General Comments

Date of Survey

14 February 2001