Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB23/20/057 B

Address :
41 Victoria Road Holywood Co Down BT18 9BD

Townland:
Ballykeel

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Survey 2:
B2

Date of Listing:
28/02/1975 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
House - Terrace

Former Use
House - Terrace

Conservation Area:
Yes

Industrial Archaeology:
No

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
130/04

IG Ref:
J4023 7918

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Owner Category

Private

Exterior Description And Setting

A two-bay two–storey-over-basement end terrace townhouse, built c. 1850 and located to the south of Victoria Road, Holywood. Square-on-plan with two-storey gabled return to rear. Pitched natural slate roof with rectangular rendered chimneystacks having terracotta pots. Cast-iron ogee rainwater goods with hopper on bracketed eaves; plastic rainwater goods to rear return. Windows are 1/1 timber framed sliding sash (segmental-headed to first floor), with projecting continuous sill. First floor windows have moulded architrave surround with keyblock detail, apron panels and corbel brackets under sills. Walling is painted smooth render; ground floor having band rustication with elongated keyblock detail over windows; reticulated block surround to entrance door with plain keyblock detail. The principal elevation faces north and is three openings wide. Entrance door to right accessed by two stone steps, comprising single panel timber door with carved detail and brass door furniture surmounted by plain transom light. The east elevation is abutted by adjoining building (B23/20/057C) The south (rear) elevation has window to first floor; modern timber double-leaf door to ground floor with small balcony having modern cast-iron railing; basement level with modern timber door to right accessed by two masonry steps; uPVC window to right. Gable of return with uPVC window to first floor; exposed section has uPVC windows to basement and ground floor. The west elevation is abutted by adjoining building (HB23/20/057A) Setting The entrance is up two stone steps over basement with decorative cast-iron railings to front. The terrace is set back slightly from the road, with a small garden to front, bounded to road by hedgerow and timber fence. Roof: natural slate Walling: render Windows: timber RWG: Cast-iron

Architects

Not Known

Historical Information

Victoria Road in Holywood began to be developed from around 1850 to provide homes for merchants and professional people who were attracted by the opening of the railway in 1848, affording easy access to Belfast. This mercantile and professional class was experiencing increasing prosperity and sought healthier and more attractive surroundings outside the city. These houses have been dated by Merrick to 1858. (Merrick, p.5) The terrace is first shown on the second edition Ordnance Survey map of 1858, captioned ‘Martello Terrace’. It is listed in Griffith’s Valuation as a terrace of three houses with returns having identical dimensions, 6½x9?x2? for the house and 3x4½x2 for the return. The terrace is shown on the valuation town plan with L-shaped returns. The current house is the residence of Thomas Gerrard and is valued at £20 later raised to £22. The rent is £25. In c.1880 the name of the terrace was changed to ‘Martello Crescent’ and in 1887 the valuation was reduced to £19. A further name change, to ‘Lower Martello Crescent’ took place in 1899. In 1891 the return was raised a storey and a bath put in which led to a rise in the valuation to £20. Following the landlord’s complaint that the houses were ‘difficult to let’ in 1895, the valuation was lowered to £17. The valuer commented that there was a kitchen in the basement storey and the rent was now £21 plus taxes. A succession of tenants occupied the house: Jane F Higginson (1863), Frances Higginson (n.d.), Jane Higginson (1887), Rev John Shilliday, a Presbyterian missionary to India (1895), Mr Gillespie (1900), Margaret Patty (1917) and Harold Abernethy in 1925. The lessor was Margaret McHugh from 1924. (Stewart, p.358) The house continues in use as a domestic dwelling. References: Primary Sources 1. PRONI OS/6/3/1/2 – Second Edition OS map 1858 2. PRONI OS/6/3/1/3 – Third Edition OS Map 1900-02 3. PRONI OS/6/3/1/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1919-31 4. PRONI OS/6/3/1/5 – Fifth Edition OS Map 1938-41 5. PRONI VAL/2/B/3/18A – Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64) 6. PRONI VAL/12/B/17/10A-G – Annual Revisions (1867-1930) 7. PRONI VAL/12/E/123/1/1-6 – Annual Revisions Town Plan (c1860-c1866) 8. PRONI VAL/12/E/123/2/1-6 – Annual Revisions Town Plan (c1867-1900) Secondary Sources 1. Merrick, Tony “Buildings of Holywood” Holywood: Holywood Advertiser, 1986 2. Stewart, Rev D “The Seceders in Ireland with Annals of their Congregations” Belfast, Presbyterian Historical Society, 1950

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

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

Historic Interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A two storey-over-basement mid terrace townhouse, built c.1850. Architectural detailing is of good quality for a townhouse of this type, and is largely intact. Number 39 has group value given that it is part of a terrace of three, all equally well-preserved, and retaining much character. They are of interest as part of the development of Holywood after the railways arrived.

General Comments

Please note this record has been renumbered, it was previously recorded as HB23/20/057

Date of Survey

24 June 2010