Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB22/07/011 A

Address :
Seapark House 109 Shore Road Greenisland Carrickfergus Co Antrim BT38 8TZ

Townland:
West Division

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Survey 2:
B+

Date of Listing:
24/07/1989 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:
114-3

IG Ref:
J3892 8577

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Owner Category

Private

Exterior Description And Setting

Detached four-bay two-storey house with classical detailing, built c.1804 (and extended c.1855), located in private estate to the east side of Shore Road. Rectangular-on-plan with two-storey projections on main elevations; entrance elevation faces south; garden elevation faces north. Square-on-plan four-stage tower to west; tower abutted by single-storey return (garage) to south elevation. Roofs are hipped natural slate; lead sheeted ridge; five rendered corbelled chimneystacks with original clay pots. Walls are smooth rendered over projecting stepped plinth. Windows are timber-framed 6/6 sliding-sash with moulded architraves (unless otherwise stated); flat dentilled entablature at ground floor; painted masonry sills. Entrance elevation is four-bays wide; first (west) bay is bowed and conical roof and contains three windows at each floor about double-leaf glazed entrance door at ground floor right; bay three contains three windows at first floor; double-leaf entrance doors at left at ground floor; two eighteen-pane fixed windows at right; bay abutted by single-storey loggia supported on Tuscan columns; bay four is canted with hipped roof; entrance door with transom light to south elevation abutted by single-storey porch supported on paired Ionic columns; window to each cheek; three windows at first floor; bay five is bowed; tripartite window at each floor; 1/1 sliding-sash at ground floor and 2/1 at first floor (divided by timber mullions with console brackets). West elevation is abutted by a four-stage tower off-centre to right; exposed section to right is abutted by single-storey lean-to slated extension (linking block between main house and garage return); exposed section to left abutted by single-storey extension with hipped slated roof; deep overhanging eaves canopy supported on Ionic columns. (South elevation containing single 4/4 sliding sash to left; dipartite 4/4 sliding sash to right; proportions mirrored to north.) Exposed section to right of tower is blank; exposed section to left contains horizontally sheeted timber to left; single 6/6 window at first floor. Garden elevation is four bays wide; at left, bowed bay contains tripartite window at each floor; 9/9 sliding sash at ground floor and 6/3 at first floor; each window divided by timber mullion with console bracket; bay two is canted; double-leaf entrance door with transom light (both six glazed panes over single fixed panel); accessed by three masonry steps and surmounted by 6/3 window at first floor; window at each floor to cheeks; bay three contains two dipartite windows at ground floor (divided by timber mullion with console bracket) each surmounted by window at first floor; further small window at each floor to centre; bay four is bowed and contains two windows at each floor; bay five is canted containing three windows at each floor. East elevation consists of three bays; central canted bay containing three windows at each floor; 6/6 sliding-sash at ground floor and 9/9 at first floor; outer bays each contain two windows to each floor. Tower, first double-height stage is abutted to north and south by single-storey extensions (north described in west elevation paragraph, south forms linking block between main house and garage return); west elevation contains two windows at ground and first floor (both within first stage.) Second stage contains single window at east and west elevations; two windows to north and south; third stage contains three openings at each elevation; central window is 1/1 sliding-sash; outer openings blind; surmounted by stucco frieze and cornice; stage four contains three segmental-arched-headed windows surmounted by hood-mouldings (at each elevation) surmounted by cornice and balustrade. Tower is connected to main house by two-storey linking block with pitched slated roof; timber casement to north. Return with hipped slated roof is detailed as main block. East elevation consists of central double-leaf entrance door flanked by three timber framed segmental-headed 2/2 sliding-sash windows; each divided by Ionic columns supporting plain dentilled entablature; further window at right contained within linking block. South elevation contains four blind segmental-headed openings each divided by Ionic columns supporting plain dentilled entablature. East elevation contains three replacement panelled garage doors to right and blind segmental-headed opening to left; each divided by pilasters supporting dentilled entablature. East elevation of linking block between main house and single-storey return contains central double-leaf timber glazed door flanked by tripartite 4/4 sliding sashes; each divided by Ionic columns supporting moulded eaves course. Set within mature private estate grounds Seapark House is bound to Shore Road by roughly coursed walling and accessed through pair of original cast-iron gates supported on pair of square pillars with rubble crenellations. To north, estate boundary wall consists of smooth rendered plinth wall surmounted by cast-iron railing with pair of recent cast-iron gates supported on square pillars with banded rustication and concrete caping. Belfast Lough to East. Bathing house (HB22/07/011C) and boathouse (HB22/07/011D) to south-east of house. Roof: Natural slate. Walling: Smooth render. Windows: Double-glazed 9/9 timber sliding sashes at ground floor; 6/3 at first floor; with painted masonry sills (unless otherwise stated.) RWG: Few cast-iron rainwater goods remaining; replacement cast-metal.

Architects

Historical Information

Seapark was built in 1804, improved c.1835 and substantially enlarged and remodelled in 1853 by Thomas Jackson, who was also responsible for designing the current gate lodge (HB22/07/011B). Sea Park is recorded on James O’Kane’s survey map of Carrickfergus dated 1821. Cartographic evidence subsequent to this date shows extensive remodelling. The first edition OS map of 1832 shows ‘Sea Park’ as two wings centrally connected to form an internal courtyard. The occupier of a ‘house, return and offices’ as well as a lodge is listed as the Rev. John Cheyne in the Townland Valuation of 1836 (later revised to John Owden). The building valuation is £50.17s.1d, a slight increase being given for the property’s ‘good situation’. The property as a whole is valued at £75, and was apparently ‘considerably improved’. In 1840, the OS memoirs described Seapark: ‘occupies a delightful situation on the shore of the Lough…the house is a very neat looking and comfortable residence. The garden and offices are suitable as to extent. Sea Park was originally erected in 1804’. (p. 92) The second edition OS map (1857) shows the plan of ‘Sea Park’ as a mainly rectangular block with extensions to the front and back. The house was further remodelled between 1857 and 1902, being shown on the 3rd edition OS map as L-shaped. Griffith’s Valuation of 1859 values the property at £110 which is revised to £130 at an undisclosed date. Also included is a gardener’s house/office (lodge) valued at £2, and a labourer’s house valued at £1.10s. The fieldbook notes that “a considerable portion of the land [is] subject to a bad eastern sea breeze...quite exposed”. Valuation Revisions show the occupier as Thomas [Green] in 1872 and as George Clarke in 1929. At this date the building valuation is increased to £180. The occupier of the gate lodge is William Murphy, and the valuation is £4. According to the Irish Architectural Archive, Thomas Greer employed Thomas Jackson to carry out work on the house in 1853. According to Brett, Sea Park was used as a summer residence up until 1930 and then lay vacant until 1938-47, when it was the home of Sir George Clarke, of the shipbuilders Workman Clarke. It was later used as an old person’s home. (p. 92) References: Primary Sources 1. PRONI D/1954/6/13 -James O’Kane’s Map of Carrickfergus (1821). 2. PRONI OS/6/1/52/1 -First Edition OS Map (1832) 3. PRONI OS/6/1/52/2 -Second Edition OS Map (1857) 4. PRONI OS/6/1/52/3 -Third Edition OS Map (1901-2) 5. PRONI VAL/1/A/52A -Townland Valuation Map 6. PRONI VAL/1/B/187 -Townland Valuation Fieldbook (1836) 7. PRONI VAL/2/A/1/52A -Griffith’s Valuation Map 8. PRONI VAL/2/B/22A -Griffith’s Valuation Fieldbook (1859) 9. PRONI VAL/12/B/7/5/A-F -Valuation Revisions (1861-1894) 10. PRONI VAL/12/B/7/6/A-D -Valuation Revisions (1894-1929) Secondary Sources 1. Brett, C.E.B. Buildings of County Antrim, UAHS, 1996. 2. Irish Architectural Archive. ‘Dictionary of Irish Architects’ [Internet source] Available from: (Accessed 20/05/09)

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style B. Proportion C. Ornamentation D. Plan Form I. Quality and survival of Interior J. Setting K. Group value

Historic Interest

V. Authorship X. Local Interest

Evaluation

An exceptionally attractive and well proportioned detached four-bay two-storey house in an Italianate style, built c.1804 (and extended c.1855), located in private estate to the east side of Shore Road. An ornately detailed building with original four-stage tower to west; further interest is provided by broken asymmetrical layout; the interior also contributes to the buildings interest. Further enhanced by unspoiled estate ground and three other estate structures; gatelodge (HB22/07/011B) bathing house (HB22/07/011C) and boathouse (HB22/07/011D.)

General Comments

This record has been renumbered as part of a group - previously HB22/07/011.

Date of Survey

29 January 2009