Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB26/46/003 A

Address :
Walton House Dominican College 38 Fortwilliam Park Belfast Co. Antrim BT15 4AQ

Townland:
Skegoneill

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Survey 2:
B+

Date of Listing:
25/11/1987 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
School

Former Use
Religious House

Conservation Area:
Yes

Industrial Archaeology:
No

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
130-5

IG Ref:
J3360 7766

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Owner Category

Exterior Description And Setting

A two-storey High-Victorian building in Italianate style dating from c.1865 attributed to the Glasgow based architect James Hamilton. Asymmetrical plan with a four-storey tower to centre. The building is located within the grounds of the Dominican College which is situated to the N side of Fortwilliam Park on a site including a modern chapel (HB 26.46.003 B). The gate lodge at No. 40 Fortwilliam Park (HB 26.46.005) was originally built as a gate lodge to Walton House. Hipped roof of Bangor blue slates with lead roll hips and valleys. Two rectangular section ashlar sandstone chimney stacks to N and S end with corbelled coping and assorted clay chimney pots. A moulded cornice supports cast iron guttering that discharges to rectangular section downpipes via ornamental cast iron hopper heads, with the exception of some of the upper level roofs that have secret gutters. Regular-coursed ashlar Giffnock sandstone walling with rusticated splayed plinth, moulded frieze and cornice. A plain string course delineates GF from FF level and this is repeated in a shallower form at FF cill level. Aside from the semi-circular projecting bay at GF level, window openings have square-section pilasters with plain capitals supporting moulded round arches with projecting keystones, set within square-headed shallow niches. Replacement double-hung 1/1 timber sash windows to openings (unless noted otherwise). Principal elevation: The principal three-bay elevation faces E. Rusticated triple-arched open entrance porch to central bay accessed by six wide stone steps with stone balustrading and square section piers. Plain frieze and moulded cornicing above the porch having raised parapets with Renaissance-style balustrading that guards the edge of the balcony at FF level. A recessed three-storey tower square-plan arch sits directly above the central porch. Tripartite window to FF and three plain smaller round-arched windows to SF. The tower has an overhanging cornicione topped by cast-iron railings detailed with intricate bands of alternating anthemion and palmette. Octagonal plan lantern with dentilled cornice and projecting eaves that support a hipped leaded roof; square-headed window openings to lantern. The semi-circular projecting bay to W of the principal elevation has a single storey bow window split into five equal openings which are separated by circular Corinthian engaged columns. This bay has a plain frieze, overhanging cornice and raised parapet with a Renaissance-style balustrade. Tripartite window to FF centred on the GF bay. The rectilinear bay to E is a single storey shallow projection which also has an overhanging cornice, raised parapet and Renaissance-style balustrade. Tripartite window openings to GF and FF. South elevation: The two-storey S elevation has a projecting bay to W and three recessed bays to E. The W bay has tripartite window to GF and paired windows to FF. Blind windows to second bay from E end at GF and FF; 2/2 sash windows to remainder. North elevation: The N elevation is a mirror image of the S elevation with a projecting bay to E and three-recessed bays to W. Tripartite window to E bay to GF and paired windows to FF. Blind windows to second bay from W end at GF and FF; 2/2 sash windows to remainder. West elevation: The W elevation is abutted by the two-storey modern building dating from 2005. Setting: The building is located in the grounds of the Dominican College fronting onto Fortwilliam Park. The site is lawned and modestly landscaped with tarmaced driveways and concrete paved pathways. It includes a number of modern two-storey school buildings: a 1960s chapel of irregular plan with sweeping curved roof (listed under HB26/46/003 B) and a two-storey gabled stone building (known as the St. Joseph’s house) to the NE end of the site. The gate lodge at No. 40 Fortwilliam Park (listed under HB26.46.005) was originally built as a gate lodge to Walton House. The site is approached through decorated cast-iron gates having twisted and elaborately scrolled railings supported on smooth rendered square-plan pillars. A dwarf walling flanks the gateway at both sides, curved on plan and rough cast rendered, it is topped by cast-iron railings. This wall is terminated by two rendered square-plan boundary pillars, one of which has a corbelled cap and projecting round-arched flat panel. Materials: Roof: Bangor blue slates RWG: Cast iron Walling: Ashlar Giffnock sandstone Windows: Replacement double-hung timber sash windows

Architects

Hamilton, James

Historical Information

Dominican College, an Italianate sandstone former house located on Fortwilliam Park, was originally constructed in c. 1865. The two-storey building, now known as Walton House and forming part of a secondary school, was first recorded in the Annual Revisions book dated 1862-66. The valuer did not record the exact date of construction but the notes accompanying the valuation suggest that the house was built towards the end of the period covered by the book (possibly suggesting 1865 or 1866). The Annual Revisions note that Walton House was originally known as Morven House, possessed a gate lodge (now demolished) and was valued at £140 in the 1860s. Throughout its history Morven House has been occupied by a number of Belfast’s most prominent businessmen. The first occupant of the mansion was a Mr Henry Kirk who leased the site from William Valentine (of Fortwilliam House) and was a partner in Lowry, Valentine & Kirk, General Commission Merchants with business premises on Wellington Place (UTD). Morven House was constructed on one of the parks formed from the breaking up of the Fortwilliam Estate in the mid-19th century. Larmour states that many grand mansions were erected on the former estate in the 1860s and 1870s but Morven House is one of the few survivors of that period. Larmour tentatively attributes the design of the house to the Glaswegian architect James Hamilton who is believed to have been responsible for the design of the gateway at the Shore Road entrance to Fortwilliam Park (HB 26.46.002, also constructed in c. 1865). Larmour states that Morven House and the gateway share certain features such as a carved hand which appears on both structures (Larmour, p.31; Dean, p. 30; DIA). The third edition Ordnance Survey map (1901-02) depicted the mansion as an L-shaped building possessing the Italianate façade and a large rear return (now replaced with modern school extensions). The Natural Stone Database records that the architect employed Scottish Giffnock Sandstone to its two-storey façade and three-storey tower (NSD). Henry Kirk continued to reside at Morven House until 1876 when Robert Thompson, a linen merchant with J. N. Richardson, Sons & Owden Ltd., took possession of the property. Thompson vacated the site in 1893 when Sir William McCammond occupied the mansion. McCammond was a prominent local building contractor and local magistrate who served as Lord Mayor of Belfast between 1894 and 1895. McCammond lived at the mansion, which he renamed Walton House, until his death in 1898 (PRONI Wills). Upon McCammond’s death Walton House was acquired by Humphrey Barron, a local magistrate and soap and candle manufacturer. The 1911 Census described Barron’s property as an extensive 1st class dwelling that consisted of 30 rooms. Walton House once again changed hands by 1918 when a Mr Charles Morrow was recorded as occupant in the Ulster Town Directories. Walton House was acquired by the Irish Dominican Sisters in 1930 and was subsequently converted into a convent school. The Dominican College website states that the decision by the Sisters to found a school ‘arose from their reading the signs of the times. Belfast had developed rapidly as a commercial city in the 1920s and the need for secretarial training for young women was seen by the Sisters as an apostolic challenge to provide such in a religious and cultural atmosphere.’ Following the conversion of the building, Walton House reopened in 1930 as a grammar school, preparatory school and secretarial college administered by the Irish Dominican Sisters. The fifth edition Ordnance Survey map (1938) records that the school occupied the main body of Walton House and that no additional school buildings had been constructed at that time. Dominican College was increased in value to £290 under the First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1936). The college website states that the attendance of the school plummeted during the Second World War as many children in North Belfast were evacuated from the city, but following the cessation of conflict and the passing of the 1947 Education Act providing free Secondary Education for all, the school witnessed a massive increase in applications (Dominican College website). To accommodate the influx of new pupils, a number of extensions to the college were added in the mid-20th century. School blocks to the north side of Walton House were erected in 1950 and 1953 and the chapel to the south side of the house was erected in the 1960s. These extensions were designed by Kilpatrick & Bready, an architectural partnership formed c. 1937. The extension of the school resulted in a massive increase in its value to £3,640 by the end of the Second Revaluation in 1972. Dominican College was listed in 1987. The NIEA HB Records note that Walton House has undergone a number of renovations since the 1980s. The roof of the building was re-slated in 1989 and in 1995-96 the exterior stonework was repaired throughout. In c. 2003 a number of new modern school blocks were constructed as part of a £13 million redevelopment aimed at providing modern facilities for the college. The redevelopment included the construction of a two-storey block to the rear of Walton House connecting the Victorian mansion to the rest of the school (NIEA HB Records; Dominican College website). Resources Primary Sources 1. PRONI OS/6/1/61/2 – Second Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1858) 2. PRONI OS/6/1/61/3 – Third Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1901-02) 3. PRONI OS/6/1/61/4 – Fourth Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1931) 4. PRONI OS/6/1/61/5 – Fifth Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1938) 5. PRONI VAL/2/B/1/21C – Griffith’s Valuation (1859) 6. PRONI VAL/12/B/5/8A-F – Annual Revisions (1862-1897) 7. PRONI VAL/12/B/43/H/1-7 – Annual Revisions (1897-1930) 8. PRONI VAL/3/C/3/11- First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1936-72) 9. PRONI VAL/4/B/7/16 - Second General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1956-72) 10. Ulster Town Directories (1861-1943) 11. PRONI Wills Catalogue (2 Mar 1898) 12. Census of Ireland (1901; 1911) 13. First Survey Record – HB26/46/003 (1985) 14. NIEA HB Records – HB26/46/003 Secondary Sources 1. Dean, J. A. K., ‘The gate lodges of Ulster: A gazetteer’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1994. 2. Larmour, P., ‘Belfast: An illustrated architectural guide’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1987. Online Resources 1. Dictionary of Irish Architects - http://www.dia.ie 2. Natural Stone Database - http://www.stonedatabase.com 3. Dominican College Website - http://www.dominicancollege.org.uk/

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style B. Proportion C. Ornamentation D. Plan Form H-. Alterations detracting from building I. Quality and survival of Interior J. Setting K. Group value

Historic Interest

R. Age S. Authenticity Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A very good example of a two-storey High-Victorian building in Italianate style dating from c.1865 to designs attributed to the Glasgow based architect James Hamilton, originally built as a mansion house. The elevation is elegantly proportioned and exhibits typical Italianate details. Although the plan form has been slightly compromised by the attached modern building to the rear, the interior retains its original layout. Walton House, thought to have been originally known as Morven House, is located within the large grounds of the Dominican College which is extensively landscaped. The land was originally encompassed within the Fortwilliam Estate until the latter was divided into various parcels and sold for gentlemen's residences; the last known resident was Sir William McCammond, a prominent local building contractor and local magistrate who served as Lord Mayor of Belfast between 1894 and 1895. He was responsible for renaming the house. The present day site includes an irregular-shape plan modernist chapel with sweeping curved roof which bears a striking resemblance to Le Corbusier's Ronchamp chapel (HB26/46/003 B), a two-storey gabled stone building (known as the St. Joseph’s building) and several modern school buildings. The gate lodge at No. 40 Fortwilliam Park (HB26.46.005) was originally built in association with Walton House.

General Comments

Date of Survey

15 April 2014