Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB23/20/056 A

Address :
33 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

Former Use
House

Conservation Area:
Yes

Industrial Archaeology:
Yes

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
130/04

IG Ref:
J4017 7918

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Owner Category

Private

Exterior Description And Setting

A two-storey-over-basement with attic three-bay semi-detached townhouse, mid-nineteenth century in the style of Thomas Jackson and located to the south of Victoria Road near Holywood town centre. Rectangular on plan with portico to front and projecting box-bay to rear. Pitched natural slate roof with terracotta ridge tiles; rectangular brick chimneystacks having terracotta pots. Ogee cast-iron rainwater goods on painted masonry eaves. Walling is Flemish-bonded red-brick with painted sandstone quoins and portico; gable is roughcast render: to rear; rubble-stone to ground-floor and sandstone plat-band between ground and first floor. Windows are 2/2 timber-framed sliding sash with horizontal glazing bars (unless otherwise stated) with painted masonry continuous sills and flat-brick lintels. Ogee cast-iron rainwater goods on painted masonry eaves. The principal elevation faces north and is four openings wide. To ground floor is portico with four semi-engaged Doric columns with antae and two Ionic columns surmounted by plain entablature with pediment and cornice having dentilled eaves; sash glazing to cheeks. Inner doorway has bolection-moulded two-panelled timber door having brass door furniture; paned side lights and transom light with pilaster jambs and panelled pilaster mullions. Sunken basement surrounded by cast-iron railings; two openings to left and single opening to right: exposed section of porch with window opening to either side. Portico with original cast-iron glass lamp. The east is abutted by adjoining building (HB23/20/056B) The south (rear) elevation (viewed from neighbouring garden) has a single opening to either side of central projecting box-bay (those to left are multi-paned). Box-bay is two-openings wide: narrow 2/2 timber-framed windows with horizontal glazing bars to left (not to second floor); central window has stained glass panels. Setting: The west elevation is concealed by trees from the road; no access to garden. The house is set back from the road with a small parking area to front; painted masonry walls with coping stones and polygonal gate piers with caps. Large mature garden to rear enclosed by hedge and fencing. Roof: natural slate Walling: brick Windows: timber RWG: cast-iron

Architects

Not Known

Historical Information

This house is one of a pair of semi-detached houses known as ‘Mill Bank’, built c.1855 and in the style of Thomas Jackson. (Merrick, p.58) 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. The houses were built near a disused windmill that has, at times, been referred to as a ‘Martello Tower’, perhaps having performed that function during the Napoleonic wars. The windmill was in use until the 1840’s. The current houses are on the site of a water-powered mill which was supplied with water from an artificial dam close to the windmill. A small river running behind the house is thought to have been the border between Scottish and Irish plantations. (Merrick, p.5, 55, Belfast Telegraph) The house is first shown on the second edition OS map of 1858, uncaptioned. Griffith’s Valuation of the period (1856-64) as ‘Mill Bank’. The houses were leased from Andrew Cowan who also owned the row of houses called ‘Walmer Terrace’ (HB23/19/006A-F) which was built at about the same time. The current house is leased from Andrew Cowan by Mary Thorn and is valued at £50. From the 1860’s to at least 1890 it was a seminary for young girls run by a succession of principals, Miss Thorn, then the Misses Black (1880) and finally, Euphemia M Lodge from 1887. In 1892 the valuation is reduced to £35.5s, the rent at this time being £43 + taxes. In 1902 the immediate lessor becomes Omar C Nelson, who was a solicitor. Following an appeal in 1904 the valuation is reduced to £30.15s and valuer’s notes of this year give a plan and dimensions. A succession of tenants occupied the house, J B Topping (1992), Lady Cowan (1900), Dr Richard A Shekelton (1904), Bernard Hand (1908), James Russell (1909) and William H Russell (1915). Robert Houston became the immediate lessor in 1915. From 1965 the house was home to Rowel Friers (1920-98), cartoonist and illustrator. Friers was trained at the Belfast College of Art and in the 1940s began to contribute drawings to the Royal Hibernian Academy, achieving almost instant fame and success. His drawings and cartoons appeared in the Radio Times, Punch, the Belfast Telegraph, Irish Times, Irish Independent and Daily Express and he is represented in the National Portrait Gallery, London by caricatures of Lord Fitt, Ian Paisley and Enoch Powell. Friers also produced set designs for theatres in Belfast and Dublin. He published his first book in 1948 and averaged a publication per year containing his illustrations. His autobiography, ‘Drawn from Life’ was published in 1994. (Merrick, p.58, Belfast Telegraph, Snoddy, p.169-70) 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/3/18B – Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64) 6. PRONI VAL/12/A/3/52 – Valuer’s Notebook (1900-06) 7. PRONI VAL/12/B/17/10A-G – Annual Revisions (1867-1930) 8. PRONI VAL/12/E/123/1/1-6 – Annual Revisions Town Plan (c1860-c1866) 9. PRONI VAL/12/E/123/2/1-6 – Annual Revisions Town Plan (c1867-1900) 10. Belfast and Province of Ulster Street Directory, 1880 11. Belfast and Province of Ulster Street Directory, 1890 12. The Belfast Telegraph, 5 March 1975 13. The Independent, 15th October 1998 Secondary Sources 1. Snoddy, T “Dictionary of Irish Artists, 20th Century” Dublin: Merlin Publishing, 2002

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

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

Historic Interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A two-storey-over-basement with attic three-bay semi-detached mid-nineteenth century townhouse, built c1855. Architectural detailing is of good quality and is largely intact. Set on the site of an old mill, and one of a pair both of which are equally well-preserved. The former home of the Belfast-born illustrator Douglas C. R. B. (Rowell) Friers. The pair are a good example of the type of urban residence that formed part of the development of Holywood after the railways arrived.

General Comments

Please note this record has been renumbere, it was previously recorded as HB23/20/056

Date of Survey

24 June 2010