15 NORTHLAND ROAD

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

End-of-terrace three storey three bay red-brick late-Victorian Arts-and-Crafts style townhouse with rendered dressings, built in 1900. Rectangular plan form facing West with a three storey red brick return built at half-landing height stepping down to a single storey flat roof extension connecting with two storey red brick outbuilding to the rear of the site. One of a terrace of three buildings situated on an elevated site to East side of the Northland Road, built turn-of-the century in 1899-1900; No's 13 and 15 built at the same time and are similar in style and character to each other; No.11 (HB01/22/029A) was built in 1899 and differs slightly in detailing.

No.15 has a gable-end facing West with a pitched natural slate roof orientated perpendicular to No.13 with terracotta clay ridge tiles with two large red brick chimney stacks, one rising from the North side and the other rising from the south, centred on ridge; moulded uPVC guttering and circular uPVC downpipe to front elevation.

Front elevation (W) has a pedimented gable-end bay to the left side with a two storey three-sided canted bay with a moulded cornice above ground floor windows, sill-course to first floor windows and a dentilled moulded cornice below second floor windows (spanning the width of the elevation) and a balustraded and red brick parapet with a deep projecting cornice above, creating a small balcony to second floor level; canted bay has square headed timber sliding sash windows with multi-paned top lights and single panes to the lower lights; second floor has square headed paired timber sliding sashes of the same style (9/1) with a moulded string-course above with a blind three-centred arch over and a moulded rendered and brick surround with keystone, herringbone pattern brick inset containing date stone of '1899'; apex of gable contains decorative terracotta tiles within stepped brick edge detailing; segmental arched 12/1 timber sliding sash window on first floor aligned above entrance opening with paired square headed windows aligned above on second floor having 4/1 timber sliding sashes; semicircular arched door opening has a rendered corbelled canopy with an entablature containing the words 'Clarence House' to a plain frieze surmounted by a small balustraded balcony over; moulded rendered archway over semicircular door opening with a central keystone and plain glazed fanlight above a pair of recessed raised-and-fielded diamond-faced three panel timber doors. Roof to front (W) elevation is artificial slate.

North elevation onto Clarence Avenue is of three storeys red brick with a stepped brick detail at eaves and a rendered painted band-course below ground floor windows and between first floor and second floors; all windows are square headed having 1/1 timber sliding sashes with moulded horns, left side windows on ground and first floor are paired, there is a single window on second floor level and a narrow window to the right side on ground floor with a multi-paned upper light and single pane to the lower light; the remaining right side of the elevation is concealed with climbing plants; moulded guttering terminating to a circular cast-iron downpipe to the left side of North elevation.

South side is adjoined to neighbouring property No. 13 Northland Road (HB01/22/029B).

Rear elevation to the East side gable-end is of red brick topped by a large red brick chimney and a single 1/1 timber sliding sash window to the right side on second floor level; rear elevation is abutted by a three storey red brick return built at half landing-height.

Rear return is of red brick with smooth-rendered unpainted finish on ground floor of East elevation. The fenestration pattern is irregular to the North elevation having 1/1 timber sliding sash windows (where seen) and a segmental headed door opening to the right side on ground floor level containing a raised-and-fielded four panel timber door with plain architrave surround and plain transom light over; rear return has a pitched slate roof with terracotta ridge tiles. Rear return steps down to a single storey red brick extension with roofing felt to flat roof adjoined to a two storey red brick and rough-cast render outbuilding on the east side.

Two-storey out-building extends the width of the site; East elevation faces out on rear laneway accessed via Clarence Avenue; ground floor is of smooth-rendered unpainted finish with rough-cast render to upper floor with stepped red brick dressing to the right side; large square headed door opening containing two metal doors and a large square headed window opening to the left with a triple light uPVC casement window; first floor has two square headed openings, left side is concealed with a vertically sheeted timber panel, right side opening contains a metal ventilation grille; South elevation of outbuilding is adjoined to neighbouring property forming a row of outbuildings associated with No's 11-15 Northland Road; North elevation is of red brick finish; NE side is abutted by a high galvanised fence and gate allowing access to rear laneway; outbuilding has a pitched slate roof with black clay ridge tiles and a uPVC rainwater goods.

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 rendered painted wall with 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 (North) Artificial slate (west)
RWGs UPVC & Cast-iron
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. 15, along with No. 13 Northland Road, were constructed in 1900 and were known as ‘Mount Maple’ (the adjoining No. 11 was built in 1899 and is stylistically different from its neighbours). The Annual Revisions note that the building was leased out by the Trustees of Foyle College and was initially valued at £42. 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 rear return and two storey outbuilding to rear). The first occupant of the house was James Roulston, a local grocer who held business premises on the Strand Road and William Street (UTD). In 1901 the census building return described No. 15 Northland Road as a 1st class building that consisted of ten rooms and possessed a stable, coal house and wash house as it’s out offices. By the First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1936-57) the house had been increased in value to £47 and was occupied by Alexander Haslett, a sculptor whose firm (Haslett Bros) operated from premises on the Abercorn Road in the 1930s. Haslett resided at Mount Maple until his death in 1959 (PRONI Wills). In 1962 No. 15 Northland Road was occupied by Thomas and Eleanor Slevin who converted the building into its current use as a guest house. By the end of the Second Revaluation (1956-72) the value of the property had been further increased to £52.

No. 15 Northland Road was listed in 1991. The terrace was incorporated into the Magee Conservation Area in 2006. Calley, writing in 2013, described the terrace as ‘three big showy red-brick three-storey, three-bay terrace houses. Nos 13 and 15 are a pair but with varying details which show off their Arts and Crafts pedigree’ (Magee Conservation Area Guide; Calley, pp 290-291). The building continues to be utilised as a guest house known as ‘Clarence House.’

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 (17 Apr 1959)
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 – HB01/22/029C
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 Arts-and-Crafts style townhouse with red brick dressings built in 1900 with a three storey return to the rear and a two-storey brick outbuilding on the east boundary. No.15 Northland Road is situated on the corner of the Northland Road and Clarence Avenue and is the end-terrace of a row of three dwellings adjacent to no’s 11 & 13 Northland Road (HB01/22/029 A & B). No’s 13 & 15 were built a year after No.11, as is apparent in the different external detailing. Fine detailing remains both internally and externally such as the rendered corbelled canopy with entablature and small balustraded balcony above the front door. 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.