Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB23/20/022 C

Address :
24 Shore Road Holywood Co Down BT18 9HX

Townland:
Holywood

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Survey 2:
B2

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

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Office - 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:
J3979 7926

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Owner Category

Private

Exterior Description And Setting

A three-storey two-bay Georgian terrace townhouse, built c.1830 and located to the west of Shore Road in the centre of Holywood. Rectangular on plan with two-storey return and single-storey extension to rear. One of a terrace of four. Pitched natural slate roof with rendered chimneystack and terracotta pots. Walling is painted smooth render with shallow rustication to ground floor. Windows are 6/6 timber-framed sliding sash with painted masonry projecting sills and moulded surround (to first floor only); second floor with smaller 3/3 timber-framed replacements; those to rear return are uPVC replacements. Cast-iron half round rainwater goods on drive-in brackets; plastic rainwater goods to rear return. The principal elevation faces east and is two openings wide. Entrance door to left comprises bolection-moulded four panelled door with brass door furniture, surmounted by fanlight. South elevation is abutted by adjoining building; HB23/20/022B. West (rear) elevation has a large window at second floor to left, and is abutted by a two-storey return having double-height extension to north. Exposed section to north with window openings to second floor and abutted at ground floor by projecting modern extension; to gable is uPVC window to first floor and modern uPVC door to ground floor. North elevation is abutted by adjoining building; HB23/20/022D. Setting The house is set back from the road with a small garden to front enclosed by painted masonry wall with saddleback coping stones and gate piers, having pointed masonry caps and decorative cast-iron latch gate. Rear garden enclosed to north and south by masonry wall and hedge; to west there is a masonry wall with simple timber gate. Roof: Natural slate Walling: render Windows: Timber RWG: Cast-iron

Architects

Not Known

Historical Information

Shore Road, or Shore Street, as it was previously known, was one of the original Holywood thoroughfares, growing up during the early seventeenth century and consisting largely of thatched cabins until redevelopment began at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Professional and mercantile classes made their homes here as Holywood began to attract an expanding population wishing to leave the dirt and clamour of Belfast behind. Shore Street was a genteel residential area with commerce mainly confined to the upper part of the road near the maypole. This terrace dates from c.1830 and is shown on the first edition OS map of 1834. (Merrick, p.32-34) The terrace is listed in the Townland Valuation of 1834 as four houses and offices all valued at £10 and owned by Dr Brison [sic]. At this time, many of the houses in Holywood are listed by landlord rather than occupier. Dr Brison is probably Samuel Bryson (1776-1853) who was an apothecary of High Street, Belfast and lived in Ballymacarrett where Bryson Street was later named after him. (There is no connection between Samuel Bryson and Bryson House in Belfast.) (Blaney, p.47-9) Bryson, the son of a Presbyterian minister, was a collector and translator of manuscripts in the Irish language and in 1805 published ‘Remains of the Irish Bards’. He is remembered as a talented scribe and scholar of Irish who promoted the study of Irish language and literature, his collection now being housed in the Belfast Public Library. He was born and is buried in Holywood. (Blaney, p.47-9) Griffith’s Valuation (1828-40) lists four houses of almost identical dimensions (there is a slight variation in the returns). This house was occupied by Anne Boyd and leased from Olivia Bryson. It is a house, yard and small garden with buildings valued at £17, later raised to £18. The rent is £22. Samuel Bryson, linen merchant of Woodbank, becomes the lessor in 1884 and the valuation is lowered to £16. A succession of occupiers follow: Walter Caldwell (1887), Thomas Holland (1900), Margaret Duncan (1902). Mary Bryson, widow of Samuel, becomes immediate lessor in 1924. The building is now in use as offices. References: Primary Sources 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/B/318 – Townland Valuation (1828-40) 7. PRONI VAL/2/B/3/18A – Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64) 8. PRONI VAL/12/B/17/10A-G – Annual Revisions (1867-1930) 9. PRONI VAL/12/E/123/1/1-6 – Annual Revisions Town Plan (c1860-c1866) 10. PRONI VAL/12/E/123/2/1-6 – Annual Revisions Town Plan (c1867-1900) 11. PRONI Will of Samuel Bryson, died 22/10/1906 Secondary Sources 1. Merrick, Tony “Buildings of Holywood” Holywood: Holywood Advertiser, 1986 2. Blaney, R “Presbyterians and the Irish Language” Belfast, Ulster Historical Foundation, 1996

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

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

Historic Interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A three-storey two-bay Georgian mid-terrace townhouse, forming part of a terrace of four. Architectural detailing to the main elevation is largely intact, although the second floor windows and entrance door are replacements. The interior has been completely modernised in recent renovations, now functioning as an office, and there is little or no historic fabric remaining. The internal layout has also been altered on the ground floor. As part of an original terrace, No 24 has group value and contributes to the whole. The terrace illustrates the development of Holywood during the early 19th century as it grew in popularity as a resort and commuter town.

General Comments

Please note this record has been renumbered, it was previous recorded as HB23/20/022

Date of Survey

29 June 2010