Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB24/06/019 B

Address :
55 Warren Road (former light house keepers' dwellings) Donaghadee Co Down BT21 0PQ

Townland:
Town parks of Donaghadee

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Survey 2:
B2

Date of Listing:
20/12/1976 00:00:00

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:
116/15

IG Ref:
J5813 8129

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Owner Category

Private

Exterior Description And Setting

Relatively plain two storey hipped roof rendered terrace block, with projecting end wings and flat roofed porches, containing five properties, originally built as light house keepers’ dwellings. The block, which sits overlooking the coastline to the north of Donaghadee, has a conservative late Georgian style appearance and looks as though it could date from the 1850s or 60s, but which evidence suggests is more likely to date from c.1884. To the rear a line of modern single storey garages was constructed c.1969, just beyond the back yards of each house. The properties are ‘symmetrically’ arranged within the plan form of the building, the SE wing, which contains all of no.53 and part of no.55, mirrored by the NW wing (containing all of no.61 and part of 59), with the main central portion containing the remainder of nos.55 and 59, with no.57 sandwiched in between. The asymmetrical front elevation of no.55 faces NE. To the left of centre is a large full height hipped roof projecting bay. Set between the intersection of the bay and the rest of the elevation is a single storey flat roofed entrance porch with panelled door to NW face, and a window to NE face. The window has a sash frame with Georgian-like panes (2 panes over 4) and label moulding. The porch has a tall parapet with cornice-like string course. To the left of the porch (to ground floor of bay) is a sash window with Georgian panes (6/6) and label moulding. To the right is an identical window. To the first floor are three similar windows, without label moulding (that to left is on first floor of the bay). To the right the elevation merges with that of no.57. To the short SE elevation (which is shared with no.53) there is a window to the ground floor and one to the first floor, both of which correspond to those to front. The rear NW and SW elevations are both covered as ground floor level by a lean-to section. The SW elevation of the lean-to, (which is taller than that to NW), is largely covered by a modern (PVC) conservatory. To immediate right of this is a window with modern frame. To the NW elevation of the lean-to there is a window with PVC frame and a doorway to its right, with PVC (mainly glazed) door. To the first floor of the SW elevation (i.e. above the lean-to) there are two windows, as first floor front but with modern frames. To first floor of the NW elevation there is a sash window, as first floor front. The façade is rendered and painted (white). Eaves course and bevelled base. The hipped roof is slated (as is the lean-to). Two relatively tall rendered chimney stacks, that to NW probably shared with no.57. The rear lean-to has a Velux window (to NW facing section). Mainly cast iron rw goods. Small enclosed yard within which there appear to be two small single storey lean-to shed / out houses.

Architects

Not Known

Historical Information

This block was originally built as dwellings for light house keepers. Its date of construction is uncertain. Its plain late Georgian style appearance suggests the 1850s or 60s (this style have lingered on throughout Ireland well into the Victorian period), but it is not shown on the OS map of 1858-60 and seems likely to date from c.1884, at the same time as the new light house on Mew Island, (thus replacing the keepers’ dwellings which had served the old light house on the aptly named Light House Island). The relatively spacious interior some of the remaining internal detailing (if original) suggests this late date of construction also. In the 1960s, the dwellings having ceased to be used for light house staff, the whole block was sold as a single unit, with the new owner adding the garages to the rear. Later (c.1970 onwards) the various individual dwellings were sold as separate properties. No.63, to the north-west end, was used for much of the 20th century as a store, stocking provisions for the light house References- Primary sources 1 PRONI OS/6/3/2/3 OS map, c.1901, Co Down sh 2 Secondary sources 1 W.G. Pollock, ‘Six miles from Bangor- The story of Donaghadee’ (Belfast 1975) 2 Hugh Dixon, Ken Kenmuir and Jill Kennett, ‘Historic buildings…Donaghadee and Portpatrick (Belfast, 1977), p.29

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style B. Proportion C. Ornamentation D. Plan Form H-. Alterations detracting from building J. Setting K. Group value

Historic Interest

X. Local Interest Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance

Evaluation

Relatively plain two storey hipped roof rendered terrace block, with projecting end wings and flat roofed porches, containing five properties, originally built as light house keepers’ dwellings. The block, which sits overlooking the coastline to the north of Donaghadee, has a conservative late Georgian style appearance and looks as though it could date from the 1850s or 60s, but which evidence suggests is more likely to date from c.1884. To the rear a line of modern single storey garages was constructed c.1969, just beyond the back yards of each house. The properties are symmetrically arranged within the plan form of the building, the SE wing, which contains all of no.53 and part of no.55, mirrored by the NW wing (containing all of no.61 and part of 59), with the main central portion containing the remainder of nos.55 and 59, with no.57 sandwiched in between. No.55 has retained its original appearance to front, however most of the window frames (and door) to the rear are modern and a large PVC conservatory has been added.

General Comments

Date of Survey

13 February 2001