Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB24/11/041

Address :
Milecross House 49 Belfast Road Milecross Newtownards Co Down BT23 4TR

Townland:
Millecross

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Survey 2:
B+

Date of Listing:
14/10/1994 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
House

Former Use
House

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
No

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
131/15

IG Ref:
J4746 7488

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Owner Category

Private

Exterior Description And Setting

Milecross House is striking and mildly eccentric, yet typically Edwardian, two and a half storey house of 1910 by James Hanna. It has all one might expect of a substantial house of this period with its asymmetric composition, steeply pitched red tile roof, red brick and rough cast facade and overall eclectic mix of Arts & Crafts and Jacobean, however, it is lifted beyond the ordinary by the inclusion of decorative full height corner projections. The house is situated on a rise to the N of the Belfast Road, less than a mile NW of Newtownards on the site of an earlier dwelling of c.1850, a section of which may have been incorporated into the rear of the present building. The prominent siting of this building enhances the composition and makes this one of the most distinctive houses on the approach to Newtownards. The front facade faces S. On the SE corner is a full height projection in red brick with shaped Jacobean gable and finial. To the ground floor of the projection is a doorway with sandstone dressings timber and glazed door (with coloured glass). To the first floor is a timber mullioned and transomed window. To the ground floor of the short SW and NE faces of the projection is a segmental arch headed window opening with sandstone ‘lintel’ and timber mullioned and transomed frame with coloured glass. To the SW corner (on the other end of the front facade) is a faceted tower like full height projection in red brick and sandstone with a distinctive and somewhat fanciful (crown-like) parapet with ‘scooped’ crenellations and finials. To all faces on the ground and first floor are mullioned and transomed windows in sandstone with red brick between floors and at base. The inner most face on the ground floor contains a window like ‘double’ door. The ‘centre’ of the front facade (between the projections) has two timber mullioned and transomed windows to the ground floor. To the centre of the first floor is a similar but larger sandstone dressed window almost set in a large-ish gabled half dormer which rises above. This central section of the front facade is finished in rough cast render and painted (white). Stretching between the projecting bays to the front and between ground and first floors, is a timber pergola supported on decorated shaped timber columns, in turn supported on squat brick piers. This arrangement was recently constructed and replaced a balcony with almost identical detailing. The large E gable is finished in rough cast and unpainted. There is a window to the ground floor now with modern frame and mullioned and transomed window to the first floor, with two smaller casement windows at attic level. Attached at the N side of this gable is a substantial two storey ‘projection’ in red brick with a red tile gabled roof with modern looking timber window (in enlarged opening) to the ground floor of its S facing gable and a casement window (as main gable) to the first floor. To the E facade of this projection is a large lean to like garage with modern up and over garage door to front set in large flat arched opening. The ground to the N of the gabled ‘projection’ rises up and there is a haphazard looking garage/shed in corrugated iron and PVC attached to the rear of the ‘projection’ and main garage. The W gable of the main house has a multi-sided flat roofed bay to the left on the ground floor, glazed to all sides with many small leaded panes. Above this is a timber mullioned and transomed window. Above this window is an attic window with recent looking frame. The right had side of this gable is totally dominated by an expanse of red brick facing which stretches from the N end of the SE corner tower-like projection which rises and stretches to the centre of the gable where it eventually narrows to form the central chimney breast. ‘Emerging’ from the top of this brick facing to the right, is another attic window. The left hand side of this W gable is finished in rough cast. To the rear of this house and set into the rise of the hill is a split level gabled return, which looks like a house in its own right (and possibly may have been part of an earlier house on this site). The W facade of this section is part two level to its S side. At the lower (basement-like) level on this side is a sash window, with horizontal glazing bars, with a modern framed window to its left. To the left of this at higher ground level, is a timber panelled door with plain fanlight. To the left of this is a canted bay with a sash window to each face with vertical and horizontal glazing bars to the upper sash of each. To the right of the doorway (directly above the ‘basement’ windows) is a large mullioned and transomed window. To the gable end of this return section is a canted bay-like projection, without window openings. The E facade of this return section is obscured by the close proximity of the haphazardly constructed outbuilding to the E, but it appears to be blank. All facades of this return are finished in rough cast and rendered. The main house has a steeply pitched gabled roof with red clay tiles and three irregularly spaced red brick chimney stacks. Overhang to main roof at verge with rafter ends exposed. The return section has a gabled roof with Bangor blue slates and two brick chimney stacks. Small flat roofed dormer to E side of return roof (near ridge). Cast iron rw goods. To the S boundary of the front garden is a small dilapidated gate with panelled piers which looks as though it predates this house. A tree within this garden boundary partly obscures the facade as viewed from the S.

Architects

Hanna, James A

Historical Information

This house was built in 1910 to designs by James Hanna. Prior to this there was a house on this site (named ‘Milecross Cottage’) which appears to have been built in c.1850, possibly by George Dickson, one of the local horticultural family, whose descendants lived in the present house until recently. Hanna appears to have incorporated a section of the nineteenth century house into this building (the return to the rear). References- Primary sources 1 PRONI Ordnance Survey Maps 1st rev. 1858-60, Co. Down sheet 5. 2 PRONI 2nd (‘Griffith’s) valuation, parish of Newtownards, townland of Milecross, 1863. Secondary sources 1 J.A.K. Dean 'The gate lodges of Ulster- a gazetteer' (UAHS 1994), p.83.

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style B. Proportion C. Ornamentation D. Plan Form H+. Alterations enhancing the building I. Quality and survival of Interior J. Setting

Historic Interest

W. Northern Ireland/International Interest V. Authorship

Evaluation

Unusual and flamboyant, but typically Edwardian, two and a half storey residence of 1910 by James Hanna with distinctive corner bays, and overall eclectic blend of Arts & Crafts and Jacobean. This house has been well preserved both inside and out and retains a rear return which may have belonged to an earlier dwelling on this site. The prominent setting displays this composition to its best effect.

General Comments

Date of Survey

24 April 1998