Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB23/20/085

Address :
23 Church Avenue Holywood Co Down BT18 9BJ

Townland:
Holywood

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Survey 2:
B2

Date of Listing:
04/12/2014 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:
130/04

IG Ref:
J4052 7903

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Owner Category

Private

Exterior Description And Setting

A detached two-storey three-bay former manse; built c.1850 and located off a private lane east of Church Avenue. Gabled bay with adjoining L-shaped block to east incorporating porch; single-storey gabled return to rear (c1985). Pitched natural slate roof on overhanging corbelled eaves; smooth rendered chimneystacks having clay pots. Plastic rainwater goods. Walling is ruled-and-lined render with raised quoins and chamfered plinth. Windows are 6/6 timber framed sliding sash in smooth rendered surrounds with projecting masonry sills (unless otherwise stated). Gabled dormer to north. The principal elevation faces southwest comprising projecting bay to right having a window to ground and first floor. To its right is porch under cat-slide roof having window to south elevation; entrance to east comprises six-panelled timber door with brass door furniture accessed by two masonry steps, having oculus to right above. Remainder is two windows wide to each floor. The northwest elevation is two windows wide to each floor. The northeast (rear) elevation has gabled bay to left with a window to each floor. The central bay has three windows to each floor (first floor right is 3/3). Gabled dormer window to left with plain bargeboard; abutted to ground floor by single-storey return (c.1985) with garage opening to south. The southeast elevation is abutted by a modern garage at right; abutted at left by car-port. Setting Situated on a mature, secluded site accessed via a private lane to the east of Church Avenue. Large mature garden to north and west enclosed by mature trees and hedgerow. A stepped masonry wall with coping stones and timber-sheeted gate abuts the rear elevation and extends to north, enclosing a paved yard. Roof: Natural slate Walling: render Windows: timber RWG: plastic

Architects

Not Known

Historical Information

The house is first shown on the second edition OS map of 1858, captioned ‘Craigmore’ and appears on visual inspection to date from c1850. By the 1860s it is known to have been the home of James Williamson, gentleman and his sister Anne Jane. (Will of James Williamson, Will of Anne Jane Williamson) Anne Jane Williamson is listed in Griffith’s Valuation as the occupier and leases the house, yard and one acre from John Harrison in 1863. The house is valued at £38. (Griffith’s Valuation) James Williamson died at the house in 1864 and Anne continued to live there until her own death in 1890. (Will of James Williamson, Will of Anne Jane Williamson) Anne Jane Williamson was prominent in the local community, in particular as the Secretary of the Ladies’Auxiliary to the Down and Connor and Dromore Church Education Society. Anne Williamson died a moderately wealthy woman and bequeathed ‘upwards of £2,700 to sundry parishes and charitable societies’. (Belfast Newsletter) David Morrow is noted to have been living in the house in April 1893, but from March 1897 to September 1898 attempts were made to let the house. It was described at the time as a “detached villa with every convenience; well sheltered from east winds; garden and good lawn; magnificent view of Lough; rent £50”. (Belfast Newsletter) References: Primary Sources 1. PRONI OS/6/3/1/1 – First Edition OS Map 1834 2. PRONI OS/6/3/1/2 – Second Edition OS map 1858 3. PRONI OS/6/3/1/3 – Third Edition OS Map 1900-02 4. PRONI OS/6/3/1/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1919-31 5. PRONI OS/6/3/1/5 – Fifth Edition OS Map 1938-41 6. PRONI VAL/1/A/3/1 – Townland Valuation Map (1828-40) 7. PRONI VAL/1/B/318 – Townland Valuation (1828-40) 8. PRONI VAL/2/B/3/1 – Griffith’s Valuation Map (1856-64) 9. PRONI VAL/2/B/3/18B – Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64) 10. PRONI VAL/12/B/23/7A-K – Annual Revisions (1866-99) 11. PRONI VAL/12/B/23/8A-C – Annual Revisions (1894-1923) 12. PRONI VAL/12/B/17/10A-G – Annual Revisions (1867-1930) 13. PRONI VAL/12/B/17/11A-C – Annual Revisions (1888-1930) 14. PRONI VAL/12/D/3/1 – Annual Revisions Maps (186 – 19 ) 15. PRONI VAL/12/E/123/1/1-6 – Annual Revisions Town Plan (c1860-c1866) 16. PRONI VAL/12/E/123/2/1-6 – Annual Revisions Town Plan (c1867-1900) 17. PRONI VAL/12/E/93/1 – Annual Revisions Town Plan (c1919-c1935)

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

Historic Interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A detached two-storey three-bay former manse; built c.1850. Retaining much architectural detailing, including original fenestration, the floor-plan is largely unchanged and historic fabric is largely intact. An extension to the rear does not compromise the integrity of the original design. Situated in a mature secluded setting that is relatively unaltered, this is a good example of one of the types of homes built by the growing middle classes during Holywood’s expansion in the mid-nineteenth century.

General Comments

Date of Survey

14 January 2011