Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB26/46/009 B

Address :
607 Antrim Road Belfast Co. Antrim BT15 4DY

Townland:
Skegoneill

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Survey 2:
B1

Date of Listing:
07/07/1986 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
House

Former Use
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:
J3326 7778

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Owner Category

Exterior Description And Setting

Two-storey High Victorian semi-detached red-brick house, built together with attached No. 605 (HB26.46.009A) between 1874-75 in the style of John Lanyon of Belfast. As a pair Nos. 607 and 605 are symmetrical and form a rectangular plan facing South with projecting gabled blocks to E and W abutted by separate single storey gabled porches to S and a single prominent chimney to centre ridge dividing the two houses. Both houses have narrowly projecting gables with two storey semi-circular bays to S and rear returns to N. No. 607 has a projecting single storey rectangular rear return with semi-circular end to N elevation, abutted on W by a single storey mono-pitch utility block, both built in 1999 to replace an earlier kitchen block. Situated within a mature garden which is set back from the Antrim Road both houses share a single entrance with a lane leading to an area which is shared and set to lawn, each house has a separate drive off main entrance lane and separate gardens to rear. Hipped and gabled natural slate roof with black clay roll top ridge tiles and three prominent red brick chimneys (one is shared with No. 605), having battered brick capping set above a dentilated brick course, with a mixture of buff clay and replacement red clay pots. Double eaves course, has a dentilated red brick cornice below a bevelled edge course, with a mixture of cast iron ogee guttering (mainly to front, S), with replacement semi-circular section metal and some uPVC to E and N, discharging to cast iron polygonal hoppers and circular section cast iron downpipes. Walling is generally of Flemish bond red brick with horizontal bands of blue brick, a stringcourse of raised red brick above a header course and stepped brick kneelers to gables. Smooth dressed red sandstone cills with sandstone coping to gables, covered in lead; hexagonal blocks to each gable apex. Windows are generally square-headed double hung single glazed sashes, with horns, in segmental arch bevelled edge red brick surrounds, having blue brick segmental arch drip moulds supported on single nail head buff brick corbels (unless otherwise stated). Principal elevation The front South elevation is a mirror image of No 605 having a central prominent chimney shared by both houses. No. 607 has two bays to SW and a two storey semi-circular bay, with half cone slated roof, which projects from gabled narrowly projecting gabled block to S. Semi-circular bay has three square-headed windows with continuous red sandstone cills and moulded sandstone heads to both floors. Each floor of semi-circular bay has two pairs of painted cast iron colonettes, including High Victorian foliated capitals, dividing windows with those of FF being reduced height. Sashes of semi-circular bay have straight frames and glazing. Gabled two storey with attic level block to SE is set back from main facade and has a two storey hipped roof rectangular bay narrowly projecting to E and a single storey gabled porch to S housing a six panelled painted timber door with replacement furniture. FF level has three blue brick bands to window level; GF has four, with a double course near GF window head level. East elevation Elevation has a projecting two storey gabled block with one central bay to its gable at attic level having a square headed 2/2 sash window, surmounted by a narrowly recessed blind semi-circular arch, including buff brick cross to centre. Block has a narrowly projecting two storey rectangular bay window with hipped natural slate roof; double window to FF, without drip mould, and a double window to GF with continuous drip mould and cill. Single storey extension to northern end of house is narrowly set back having Flemish bond red brick walling with two continuous blue brick bands and hipped natural slate roof with half cone section to semi-circular N end. Extension has a paired square-headed window to E with double hung timber sashes and continuous stone cill and head; similar but curved false sash top opening casement window to NE with no drip moulds to extension windows. Two storey projecting gabled block has a gabled projecting porch attached to S with two small square headed windows, without drip moulds, at FF level above either side of porch roof apex with no other windows to main facade. Rectangular section red brick chimney to SE wall with two buff clay pots. Porch has projecting eaves and an ornate moulded timber bargeboard, with detailed timber fretwork panel, supported on moulded timber brackets and stepped buff brick corbels. Porch has a single window to E with central moulded timber colonette style mullion dividing two fixed lights with timber tracery lights above. North elevation The rear N elevation shows a distinct lack of decoration in comparison to the front and side with a plain double stepped eaves course and blue brick bands only to single storey curved end extension. Fenestration pattern is irregular with square headed window openings generally having double hung sliding sashes divided by horizontal glazing bars, no drip moulds to heads. Prominent red brick chimney, dividing Nos. 607 and 605, to NW with one bay to main block at NW having glazed double doors and square fanlight to GF; one half-dormer window, above paired window, to narrowly projecting block at NE. Narrowly projecting block has prominent rectangular section chimney to ridge, with four buff clay pots, and is attached to single storey extensions on N. Semi-circular end extension, housing kitchen internally, has curved timber glazed double doors flanked by false sash timber top opening casements. Mono-pitch block attached to W of kitchen block has a louvered square-headed timber door and a square-headed side opening casement window. West elevation Building is attached on the W to No. 605 with both houses together being largely symmetrical and having a prominent chimney to centre of roof. Setting Located on the E side of the Antrim Road both Nos. 607 and 605 are not clearly visible from the public footpath and access is through a shared entrance with modern replacement timber gates set on square section replacement red brick piers. Private lane leads to grounds also shared with No. 605, each house having an individual drive from the lane and separate gardens divided by mature hedging to rear. Roof: Natural slate RWGs: Cast iron with some replacement uPVC and metal Walling: Red brick with blue brick detailing Windows: Timber sash with timber casements to extension

Architects

Historical Information

Nos 605-607 Antrim Road, a pair of two-storey red-brick semi-detached houses located in the Somerton Road Conservation Area, were built in 1874-75. The Victorian dwellings were constructed following the breakup 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, although only a few now survive. Nos 605-607 Antrim Road were constructed on land owned by Victor C. Taylor, a machinist and millwright who owned the Atlas Foundry on Townsend Street and resided at Fortwilliam Terrace in the 1870s (UTD). The Annual Revisions note that nos 605-607 Antrim Road were constructed between 1874 and 1875, were initially valued at £62 each and were known as ‘Ardeen.’ The architect of nos 605-607 Antrim Road is not known with certainty. However, the First Survey (1985) suggests that the buildings were designed ‘in the style of John Lanyon.’ The son of Sir. Charles Lanyon, John Lanyon (1839-1900) began his career in partnership with his father and W. H. Lynn, forming the firm Lanyon, Lynn & Lanyon in 1860. Following the dissolution of the firm in 1872 and his father’s retirement, John Lanyon established an independent practice in Belfast. Lanyon’s association with the Fortwilliam and Somerton Road developments began in 1870 when he occupied Lisbreen House (HB26/46/008). The Dictionary of Irish Architects notes that he carried out work to a mansion on Fortwilliam Park in 1889 and it is very likely that he was also the architect of No. 71 Somerton House (HB26/46/003) which neighboured his own dwelling (DIA). Following Taylor’s death in 1896, ownership of nos 605-607 Antrim Road passed to his children. Nos 605-607 Antrim Road were listed in 1986. Nos 605-607 Antrim Road were included in the Somerton Road Conservation Area which was designated in 2000 as ‘the Somerton area exhibits a very high standard of townscape character with many period Victorian and Edwardian properties contributing to the special quality of this suburban setting’ (DOE). During the Second Survey No. 607 Antrim Road continued to be utilised as a private dwelling. Resources Secondary Sources 1. Larmour, P., ‘Belfast: An illustrated architectural guide’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1987. Primary Sources 1. PRONI OS/6/1/61/3 – Third Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1901-02) 2. PRONI OS/6/1/61/4 – Fourth Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1931) 3. PRONI OS/6/1/61/5 – Fifth Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1938) 4. PRONI VAL/12/B/5/8B-8F – Annual Revisions (1867-1897) 5. PRONI VAL/12/B/43/H/1-7 – Annual Revisions (1897-1930) 6. PRONI VAL/3/C/3/10- First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1936-72) 7. PRONI VAL/4/B/7/13 - Second General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1956-72) 8. Ulster Town Directories (1877-1943) 9. PRONI Wills Catalogue (8 Jul 1896) 10. Census of Ireland (1901; 1911) 11. First Survey record – HB26/46/009 (1985) 12. NIEA HB Records – HB26/46/009A Online Resources 1. Dictionary of Irish Architects – http://www.dia.ie/ 2. DOE Conservation Areas – http://www.planningni.gov.uk/index/policy/supplementary_guidance/conservation/conservation_map/conservation_somerton_chichester .htm

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style B. Proportion C. Ornamentation J. Setting K. Group value

Historic Interest

R. Age S. Authenticity V. Authorship X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A well proportioned and detailed two-storey High Victorian semi-detached red-brick house, built with No. 605 (HB26.46.009A) between 1874-75 in the style of John Lanyon, Belfast, an accomplished architect of his day. Together Nos. 607 and 605 Antrim Road form a rectangular plan each with separate N returns and red brick walling throughout. The exterior of the building is enhanced by blue brick bands and red sandstone detailing. No. 607 has a single storey rectangular return, with semi-circular northern end, which is abutted by a single storey mono-pitch utility block to W, both built in 1999 to replace an earlier kitchen block. Externally many original features have been retained, such as sash windows and the ornate joinery to the porch. The original gate screen and piers to the Antrim Road have now been replaced by modern alternatives. Overall, No. 607 is a good example of its type with group value and quality detailing adding to its interest.

General Comments

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Date of Survey

05 November 2014