Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB26/06/007

Address :
189 Albertbridge Road Belfast County Antrim BT5 4PW

Townland:
Ballymacarret

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Survey 2:
B2

Date of Listing:
10/10/1991 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Health Centre

Former Use
Health Centre

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
No

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
130/14

IG Ref:
J3570 7393

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Owner Category

Private

Exterior Description And Setting

A two-and-a-half storey two-bay end of terrace Victorian townhouse built c.1865; oblique plan with two rear returns. Located at the junction of the Albertbridge Road and Templemore Avenue, opposite Mountpottinger Methodist Church (HB26/08/004), east Belfast. Pitched natural slate roof with clay ridge tiles; ogee moulded cast-iron gutters with some uPVC replacement gutters and downpipes. Red brick chimneys with terracotta pots. Ruled-and-lined painted stucco rendered walling with projected plinth course; rusticated quoins and moulded string and eaves course. Timber casement windows with coloured decorative came-lights to upper pane; moulded surrounds and masonry cill. Shallow elliptical arched entrance; long-and-short stucco surrounds and projected keyblock; replacement door and side lights; decorative leaded over light reading “Dr J.F. Breach”. The principal elevation faces north and is asymmetrically arranged. Front entrance to the right with single first floor window over. Lead roof two-storey canted bay to the left. Continuous string course between ground and first floor. Wall-headed gabled dormer with open pediment mouldings; embracing paired diminished in height windows with crest over depicting the initials “J.D.W.” and dated “1912”. The left elevation is abutted by adjoining building 191 Albertbridge Road. The rear elevation is asymmetrically arranged and largely abutted by two two-storey returns. Single replacement ground floor door; 2/2 sliding sash with horizontal glazing bars to first floor; segmental arched 2/2 sliding sash with horizontal glazing bars landing light to the right; single replacement casement window to the second floor; modern roof light to the rear roof pitch. The right return is gable ended; single first floor window to the gable; various windows and doors to the west cheek. The left return has a parapetted roof terrace. Single first floor window to the south face; various windows and doors to the east cheek; shallow elliptical arch entrance door with paired windows to the right at ground floor and a single first floor window with oriel bay to the right at first floor to the west cheek. Roof terrace accessed from second floor door. The right gable is symmetrically arranged; two ground floor windows; two oriel first floor bays; two diminished second floor windows embraced by open pediment style cornice mouldings. Setting: The building is prominently located at the end of a terrace comprising similarly detailed by smaller dwellings, at the junction of an arterial route to the east of Belfast. Surrounded by a cluster of socially significant historic buildings including schools (HB26/08/013), churches (HB26/08/004), swimming bath (HB26/08/003) and an orange hall, beyond which is largely two and three-storey terraced housing. Roofing : Natural slate Walling: Ruled-and-lined render Windows: Timber casement leaded lights RWG: Cast-iron/uPVC replacement

Architects

Not Known

Historical Information

No. 189 Albertbridge Road is a two-and-a-half-storey Victorian townhouse, the end-terrace building of Lorne Terrace (later St. Helen’s Terrace), which can first be seen on the third edition Ordnance Survey map in 1902 and appears in the valuation records for the Albertbridge Road in 1865, the year when the terrace was erected. The Annual Revisions record that the first occupant of the house was William John Gray, the proprietor of the Ballymacarrett Coke Company in 1861 (Belfast Street Directory); Gray let the house, which was valued at £22, from a Mr. James Anderson. Gray resided at 189 Albertbridge Road until 1871 when its value was reduced to £18 and a Mr. David Millar came into possession. Miller was employed as a Clerk in Belfast’s Custom House but had vacated the address by 1880 when Thomas Wood, a Gentleman, was recorded as occupant. No. 189 Albertbridge Road was reduced in value to £15 In 1883 (along with the other houses on the terrace) and in that year a Mr. D. [McClear] came into possession of the house where he lived until 1897. In 1897 the value of the house was raised to £20 when Dr. John Dunlop Williamson M. D. came into possession of the house, purchasing an 18 year lease from James Anderson in that year and converting the premises into a doctors surgery. Dr. Williamson was the first occupant to establish a local surgery at No. 189 when he came into possession although the 1901 Census simply describes the house as a private dwelling. The census indicates that Williamson, a 40 year old Presbyterian General Practitioner, who also operated as a Belfast Councillor, resided at No. 189 Albertbridge Road with his wife Mary Isabel (27) and their infant daughter; the Census Building Return of that year described the house as a 2nd class dwelling which consisted of nine rooms. There was no alteration by the 1911 Census, however the 1907 Belfast Street Directory records that Williamson also held the title Justice of the Peace. Dr. Williamson continued to occupy No. 189 Albertbridge Road until the time of his death in February 1944 (Belfast City Council Burial Records); in his later years Williamson held a number of prominent titles including the Chairman of the Public Health Committee, High Sheriff of Belfast between 1934-35 and also Deputy Lord Mayor for the year 1940-41 (Belfast Gazette, 2 Feb 1934). In 1935, while Williamson was still alive, the first general revaluation of property in Northern Ireland described the property as a House and Surgery; by that time the value had increased to £49. With Williamson’s death No. 189 Albertbridge Road and its surgery came into the possession of Dr. J. F. Breach who continued to occupy the house until at least 1990. A second general revaluation took place from 1956 which recorded that the value of the house had increased to £83 since 1935, however under the Rent and Valuation Act (1957) this was lowered to £71; Breach submitted a successful application to reduce this further and the value of the property by the end of the revaluation in 1972 stood at £62. No. 189 Albertbridge Road was listed in 1991; field research finds that the Victorian character of the townhouse has been maintained, however its windows were likely altered in the early 20th century. It is possible that alteration work took place in 1912, explaining the date above the top dormer window; however this cannot be confirmed through the valuation sources as there was no shift in the value of the property between 1897 and 1930 and no records of any alteration were found. The Albertbridge Road surgery was originally established over a century ago and today No. 189 Albertbridge Road and continued to operate until recently as a private Medical Centre; Dr. John Dunlop Williamson is commemorated by a crest bearing his initials (located on the upper dormer window, dated 1912) whilst the name of Dr. J. D. Breach is recorded in the stained glass fanlight at the entrance to the property (Haines, p. 45). The building is also of historical significance as one of the earliest terraced houses in the townland of Ballymacarrett, dating from 1865; the only other surviving terraced dwellings in the area, which predate the construction of East Belfast’s distinctive redbrick terraces, are nos 32-36 The Mount in Mountpottinger which date from c. 1860 (HB26/06/001; HB26/06/001C). Ceased to be a medical centre in 2012. (information from current owner) References Primary Sources 1. PRONI OS/6/3/3 – Third Edition Ordnance Survey map 1902 2. PRONI OS/6/3/4 – Fourth Edition Ordnance Survey map 1920-21 3. PRONI OS/6/3/5 – Fifth Edition Ordnance Survey map 1931 4. PRONI VAL/12/B/43/A/6 – Annual Revisions 1863-1881 5. PRONI VAL/12/B/43/A/20 – Annual Revisions 1882-1896 6. PRONI VAL/12/B/43/A/30 – Annual Revisions 1897-1905 7. PRONI VAL/12/B/43/L/4 – Annual Revisions 1906-1914 8. PRONI VAL/12/B/43/L/8 – Annual Revisions 1915-1930 9. PRONI VAL/3/B/3/11 – First General Revaluation of Northern Ireland 1935 10. PRONI VAL/4/B/7/25 – Second General Revaluation of Northern Ireland 1956-1972 11. Census of Ireland (1901; 1911) 12. Belfast Street Directories (1880; 1901; 1907; 1910; 1918; 1920- 1990) 13. Belfast Gazette (1934) Secondary Sources 1. Haines, K., ‘Images of East Belfast’ Belfast: The History Press, 2007. 2. First Survey Record – HB26/06/007 (1991) Online Resources 1. Belfast City Council: Burial Records - http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/burialrecords/search.asp

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style B. Proportion C. Ornamentation D. Plan Form H-. Alterations detracting from building I. Quality and survival of Interior

Historic Interest

R. Age S. Authenticity Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A two-and-a-half storey two-bay end of terrace Victorian townhouse built c.1865. Erected as one of the earliest residential blocks in the area, the terrace as a whole has generally retained its Victorian style and proportions. This end of terrace is significantly larger than the rest and survives as the best example of the group having retained many original features of interest. The windows dating from the early 20th century illustrate a change in architectural style and detailing. Internally the layout has remained intact although some internal alterations have resulted in some loss of historic fabric. Historically associated to prominent local figure J.D. Williamson; who resided there for almost 50 years from c.1900. Located in a good setting within the context of several later prominent historic buildings. Although no longer functioning as a surgery this building makes a positive contribution to the local character of the area and is of considerable social importance and interest to the local community.

General Comments

Date of Survey

04 May 2011