11 NORTHLAND ROAD

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

End-of-terrace three storey red-brick late-Victorian townhouse with red brick dressings, built in 1899. Rectangular plan form facing West with a large four storey rendered return to the rear built at half landing height and a two-storey stone and brick outbuilding to the rear. One of a terrace of three buildings situated on an elevated site to East side of the Northland Road, built in 1899-1900; No. 11 is of a different style, with different detailing and the first of the three houses to be constructed. The front elevation has been repointed.

The front elevation (W) has a two-storey three-sided canted bay with hipped slate roof over and square headed windows, moulded brick cornice and string-course between ground and first floor windows with a continuous painted sill band to ground and first floor windows. Canted bay windows and single window above entrance opening are 4/1 double hung timber sliding sashes with moulded horns, top panes have coloured decorative glass and a rectangular shaped pane in the centre; second floor windows are 1/1 double hung timber sliding sashes with moulded horns; right side bays are paired on second floor level; window bays above entrance opening on first and second floor are slightly wider. Red brick pedimented aedicule door surround with decorative keystone above square headed opening and decorative floral detailing to brick pilaster to either side of opening; door case contains a pair of raised-and-fielded diamond faced three panel timber half-leaf doors with plain architrave surround and a plain transom light above.

North elevation is adjoined to neighbouring property No.13 Northland Road (HB01/22/029B). South elevation gable-end is of rendered unpainted finish (with no windows or door openings) topped by a large two-stage red brick chimney stack with buff clay pots; south elevation is abutted by a high brick boundary wall of adjoining property on ground floor level.

The rear elevation (E) is of smooth rendered unpainted finish with a 1/1 timber sliding sash window to third floor level (remaining windows not seen - full access not granted); rear elevation is abutted by a four storey rendered rear return built at half landing-height; uPVC rainwater goods to rear elevation.

Rear return is of rendered unpainted finish; the fenestration pattern is irregular with a single 1/1 timber sliding sash window with moulded horns to the left side of third floor level on the South elevation, to right is a timber casement window with three more of the same below on second floor level (remaining windows not seen); circular cast-iron downpipe to South elevation of rear return; East elevation of return has a 1/1 timber sliding sash window on fourth floor level, east elevation is topped by a small red brick chimney stack with a single buff clay pot on the rear gable wall.

Two-storey stone out-building to the rear has red brick dressings with rough-cast render over; East elevation faces out on rear laneway accessed via Clarence Avenue; elevation has two square headed door openings, both contain a galvanised door, right side door has a transom light above, left side doorway has a small uPVC casement window to either side; first floor contains three square headed window openings, left side bay is fully concealed with vertically sheeted timber boards, left side bays have horizontal timber sheeting, partially concealing openings; South elevation is blank with a smooth-rendered unpainted finish; North elevation of outbuilding is adjoined to neighbouring property forming a row of outbuildings associated with No's 11-15 Northland Road; outbuilding has a pitched slate roof with black clay ridge tiles.

Setting:
Located on the East side of the Northland Road, on an elevated site with the River Foyle below to the East. Small garden to the front is enclosed by a low red brick wall with painted capping stone and metal railings above. Front elevation faces West forming a terrace row of three three-storey red brick buildings situated on a corner site to the Northland Road and Clarence Avenue.

Roof Natural Slate
RWGs UPVC (Main house) Cast-iron (Rear-return)
Walling Red brick
Windows Timber Sliding Sash

Historical information

Nos 11-15 Northland Road, a terrace of three-storey red-brick dwellings located at the corner of Clarence Avenue, was constructed between 1899 and 1900. The northern expansion of Londonderry had been initiated in the mid-19th century with the construction of Georgian-style terraces on Great James Street, Queen Street and Clarendon Street. Mullin states that Edenballymore and the Northland Road was still rural in character when the Victorian terrace of Crawford Square (HB01/22/003; 004) was constructed in the 1860s-1870s. The expansion of the city was facilitated by a period of economic growth and prosperity that endured from the 1860s until the end of the 19th century. With the opening of Magee College in 1865, a number of new terraced dwellings were constructed in the vicinity including College Terrace (HB01/22/026), Clarence Avenue (HB01/22/006) and Florence Terrace (Mullin, p. 119; Rowan, p. 371). The architect of the terrace is not known with certainty, although Edward J. Toye or Robert Eccles Buchanan may have been responsible as both architects designed contemporary dwellings along the Northland Road between 1895 and 1902 (DIA).

No. 11 Northland Road was erected in 1899 and was the first of the three houses to be constructed. The Annual Revisions note that the building was leased by a Miss Margaret Scott from the Trustees of Foyle College and was initially valued at £45. The building was first depicted in plan form on the Annual Revisions Town Plan of Londonderry (c. 1873-1910) which depicted it along its current layout (possessing its four-storey rear return and two storey outbuilding to rear). The 1901 census records that Margaret Scott and her sister Mary resided at No. 11 Northland Road and operated a jewellery and furniture business at the corner of Bishop Street and The Diamond. In that year the census building return described Scott’s residence as a 1st class dwelling that consisted of ten rooms and possessed a stable and coal house as its sole out offices. Margaret and Mary Scott named their house ‘Ard-Na-Loc’ and continued to reside there until Margaret’s death in 1925 when the house passed to a Mr. Hugh Knox. The census records that Knox was employed in the Scott’s store and boarded at Ard-Na-Loc in 1901. Under the First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1936-57) the value of the house was increased to £53. Hugh Knox continued to operate the furniture and jewellery store at The Diamond and resided at Ard Na Loc until his own death in 1937 at which point his widow, Elizabeth, took possession of the house (PRONI Wills). Elizabeth Knox remained at No. 11 Northland Road until at least the end of the Second Revaluation (1956-72) at which time the value of the house had slightly fallen to £52.

No. 11 Northland Road was listed in 1991. The NIEA HB Records note that the building underwent a general renovation and repair in 1992 and was subsequently treated against water ingress in 2012 (NIEA HB Records). The terrace was incorporated into the Magee Conservation Area in 2006. The guide for the conservation area records that No. 11 Northland Road differs from many of the terraced dwellings along the Northland Road in its use of Westmoreland Green roof slates. Calley, writing in 2013, described the terrace as ‘three big showy red-brick three-storey, three-bay terrace houses. [No. 11 Northland Road] is of slightly different brick and is somewhat less adorned than the other two … the principal decorative feature is the pedimented aedicule door surround in matching brickwork’ (Magee Conservation Area Guide; Calley, pp 290-291).

References

Primary Sources
1. PRONI VAL/12/E/157/1/1 – Annual Revisions Town Plan (c. 1873-1910)
2. PRONI VAL/12/B/33/2A-F – Annual Revisions (1898-1931)
3. PRONI VAL/3/C/6/10 – First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1936-57)
4. PRONI VAL/4/B/5/14 – Second General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1956-72)
5. Census of Ireland (1901; 1911)
6. PRONI Wills Catalogue (19 Oct 1925; 14 Feb 1937).
7. Ulster Town Directories (1901-1918)
8. First Survey Record – HB01/22/029 (1970)
9. First Survey Image – HB01/22/029 (No Date)
10. NIEA HB Records – HB01/22/029A
11. Foyle Civic Trust: Living City Project (The Diamond)

Secondary Sources
1. Calley, D., ‘City of Derry: An historical gazetteer to the buildings of Londonderry’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 2013.
2. Ferguson, W. S; Rowan, A. J; Tracey, J. J., ‘List of historic buildings, groups of buildings, areas of architectural importance in and near the city of Derry’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1970.
3. Mullin, T. H., Ulster’s Historic City: Derry – Londonderry’ Coleraine: Coleraine Bookshop, 1986.
4. ‘Design Guide for Magee Conservation Area’ Department of the Environment, 2010.

Online Resources
1. Dictionary of Irish Architects - http://www.dia.ie/

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
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
S. Authenticity
T. Historic Importance
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A substantial late-Victorian three storey red brick townhouse with red brick dressings built in 1899, with a large four storey return to the rear and stone outbuilding on the east boundary. No.11 Northland Road is the end-terrace of a row of three dwellings situated on the east side of the Northland Road adjacent to no’s 13 & 15 Northland Road (HB01/22/029 B & C) and was built a year before no’s 13 & 15, as is apparent in the different external detailing. The front elevation retains much of its original character, style and proportions. Fine detailing remains both internally and externally such as the pedimented aedicule door surround with decorative keystone and terracotta tiling with floral motif to either side of the front door opening. The architect of the terrace is not known with certainty, although Edward J. Toye or Robert Eccles Buchanan may have been responsible as both architects designed contemporary dwellings along the Northland Road between 1895 and 1902. Together the three dwellings have group value and the Magee Conservation Area is enhanced by their historical authenticity and presence.