Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB26/31/002

Address :
Clonard House 24 Clonard Gardens Belfast BT13 2RH

Townland:
Edenderry

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Survey 2:
B2

Date of Listing:
25/09/1987 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Residential Home

Former Use
Religious House

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
No

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
130-13 SW

IG Ref:
J3206 7429

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Owner Category

Housing Association

Exterior Description And Setting

Detached symmetrical three-bay two-storey stucco-fronted former house, built c.1843. Rectangular on plan, facing south with a central entrance portico and full-height bows to either side. Located at the junction of Clonard Gardens and Clonard Street on a corner site with front railed garden opposite the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer (HB26/31/001A). Extensively renovated c.1999 with a large two-storey wing added to the rear, now in use as a nursing home. Hipped natural slate roof with rolled lead ridges and central lead-lined flat section. Replacement rendered chimneystacks and replacement steel rainwater goods to timber sheeted overhanging eaves. Painted ruled-and-lined cement rendered walling with moulded plinth course. Square-headed window openings with replacement timber sash windows and painted masonry sills. Symmetrical south front elevation is three windows wide, each bay framed by paired Giant Doric order pilasters. Elliptical-headed door opening with replacement tripartite timber doorcase and fanlight opens onto a tiled platform with a painted Ionic masonry portico. Paired Ionic columns support architrave, plain frieze and modillioned cornice. Three tiled steps open into front lawn. West side elevation is four windows wide with a full-height bow to the right having replacement curved sash windows. Rear elevation abutted by two-storey rendered extension connecting a linear two-storey red brick wing, built c.1999. East side elevation as per west elevation. Setting Located at the junction of Clonard Gardens and Clonard Street on a corner site with a front garden enclosed by replacement brick plinth wall and steel railings. The former house is located opposite the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer (HB26/31/001A) and the monastery (HB26/31/001B), forming part of a collection of historic buildings. Roof Natural slate RWG Replacement steel Walling Replacement ruled-and-lined cement render Windows Replacement timber sash

Architects

Historical Information

Clonard House is believed to have been designed by Thomas Jackson and built around 1843. Certainly no building is shown on this site on the 1832/3 Ordnance Survey map, though there was a large circular enclosure, possibly an Early Christian ringfort. Griffith’s Valuation (1861) shows that the occupier of the house was James Kennedy who was leasing it from the Northern Banking Co. The buildings were valued at £63. The Valuation Revision Books show that the value of the buildings was increased to £70 in 1866, though with any explanation. In 1885 they were reduced to £65, again without explanation. Shortly after becoming Catholic bishop of Down and Connor in 1895, Dr Henry announced his intention to found a house for the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (better known as the Redemptorists) in west Belfast. The bishop believed that the Redemptorists would be able to assist local clergy. At this time Clonard House was owned by Messrs R. J. McConnell & Co., estate agents, who had acquired the land for building and were planning to demolish the house. The bishop personally approached the firm and offered to buy the house. A sale was agreed for the house and 3½ acres of land for £2,360. The Redemptorists took formal possession on 31 October 1896, paying a rent of £50 per annum. Mass was first celebrated in Clonard House, henceforth known as the Oratory of the Most Holy Redeemer, on 1 November 1896 These ownership and occupation changes are reflected in the Valuation Revision Books which show Kennedy’s name changed to the Most Rev. Dr Henry, and Northern Banking Co. changed to R. J. McConnell. Furthermore, the valuation of the house (no offices) was given as £55. Subsequent to this, a new monastery was built nearby for the Redemptorists and they moved into it on 2 May 1900. The next day the Sisters of Mercy moved into Clonard House. In 1901 the valuation of the now Convent of the Sisters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul, listed under Oranmore Street, was raised to £88 and to £95 in 1913. The latter revision was due to the addition of an Assembly Hall to the property. This structure was built using some of the brick and stone from the temporary church which was dismantled following the construction of the new church at Clonard. The last Sisters moved out on 10 August 1990. In 1996 there was a proposal to convert the building to provide sheltered housing accommodation and demolish the rear return. This secured the necessary approvals in 1997. Today Clonard House is run by Oaklee Housing Association. References Public Record Office of Northern Ireland Ordnance Survey 6-inch map, 1832/3 – OS/6/1/60/1 Ordnance Survey 6-inch map, 1857 – OS/6/1/60/2 Ordnance Survey 6-inch map, 1901 – OS/6/1/60/3 Valuation Revision Books – VAL/12/B/43/E/5 (1862-81) Valuation Revision Books – VAL/12/B/43/E/8 (1882-96) Valuation Revision Books – VAL/12/B/43/D/17 (1897-1905) Valuation Revision Books – VAL/12/B/43/J/3 (1906-15) Valuation Revision Books – VAL/12/B/43/J/5 (1915-30) Northern Ireland Environment Agency First Survey Record – HB26/31/002 HB Records – HB26/31/002 Published sources Patrick O’Donnell, Clonard Church and Monastery (1978) Paul Larmour, Belfast: an illustrated architectural guide (Belfast, 1987) James Grant, One hundred years with the Clonard Redemptorists (Blackrock, 2003) Church of the Most Holy Redeemer. Clonard Church Centenary Guide (2012) Online sources Dictionary of Irish Architects: www.dia.ie

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

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

Historic Interest

V. Authorship X. Local Interest Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance R. Age S. Authenticity T. Historic Importance

Evaluation

Detached symmetrical three-bay two-storey stucco-fronted former house, built c.1843, and probably designed by the prominent local architect Thomas Jackson. Rectangular on plan, facing south with a central entrance portico and full-height bows to either side. Originally a secluded house, the building later became the initial site of the Redemptorists in Belfast and has had a long association with the church and monastery. While the recent renovations have resulted in the loss of much original detailing, the ecclesiastical associations and age give the building architectural and historic interest as part of an important group including the church and monastery (HB26.31.001 A-C) on Clonard Road.

General Comments

Date of Survey

17 April 2014