30 Kerr Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A mid-Victorian two-bay three-storey terraced townhouse with attic, built 1867 and located to the east side of Kerr Street overlooking the harbour in Portrush town centre. Square on plan with two-storey return to rear.

Pitched natural slate roof with blue/black angled ridge tiles and rendered chimneystack having six clay pots. Cast-iron ogee rainwater goods on moulded eaves course. Walling is ruled-and-lined cement render on a contrasting plinth. Windows are uPVC replacements in moulded architraves with projecting painted sills; left ground floor window also with plain entablature and cornice; three light dormer to roof at front and rear; canted oriel to first floor rests on consoles to jambs of window beneath.

The principal elevation faces west and is three openings wide at each floor; canted oriel window to first floor centre with leaded flat-roof. Doorcase to ground floor right is accessed by two steps laid with modern tiles and comprises bolection moulded four-panel timber door having bronze knocker surmounted by transom light inscribed “30”. Door is flanked by panelled pilasters and surmounted by corniced canopy on scrolled acanthus leaf console brackets. The north elevation is abutted by adjoining building; HB03/10/005C.

The east (rear) elevation has skylight to centre of ridge line and three irregularly arranged windows at third floor; abutted at lower floors by two-storey return.

The south elevation is abutted by adjoining building; HB03/10/005A.

Setting:

Street-fronted overlooking Portrush harbour. High rubblestone wall to rear with concrete coping encloses rear yard. Set back slightly from the street with plinth to front laid with modern black and white square tiles; cast-iron flat handrail with ornate cast-iron balusters to each corner on painted render plinth wall.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: Ruled-and-lined render
Windows: uPVC
RWG: Cast-iron

Historical information

The current sea-front house is one of a terrace of three dwellings built in 1867/8 as Portrush began to develop following the opening of the railway line in 1855. The terrace was named ‘Abercorn Place’ and is first shown on the 1896 town plan of Portrush, facing onto the harbour. The houses first enter valuation records in 1867 when all three vacant unfinished properties are valued at £25. The houses were leased from James Moore the likely developer of the site.

The first occupier to be noted in number 30 was the Rev Mr Craig in 1871. He is followed by John Dunlop (1873) Miss Lecky (1889) Mrs Given (1891) and Miss Matilda Cunningham (1897) but the building was vacant at the time of the 1901 census. Victoria and Alice Stewart were the occupiers by 1904 and the 1911 census records 59-year-old Alice, a spinster living on her savings with her young niece. Subsequent occupiers were James E Stewart (1915) Charles McFarlane (1919), Andrew P Campbell (1920) Ellen Lyons (1927) Charles J Macfarlane and Marion Stewart Macfarlane (1936).

The freehold was purchased by the Macfarlanes in 1928 and in the 1930s the accommodation comprised three receptions, seven bedrooms, a kitchen, scullery and pantry and WC. In 1945 the rear of the house was converted into a kitchenette and two bedrooms. The house was let furnished at £4 per month to include hot water and linen.

Girvan surveyed the buildings in the early 1970s and noted the ‘upper-storey oriel windows, typical of Portrush and Portstewart’. (Girvan)

The property was listed in 1977 and since the first survey photograph was taken, the windows to the main building have been replaced. A dormer window was added in the late 1970s. (HB file)

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/1/2/1 First Edition OS Map 1831-2
2. PRONI OS/6/1/2/2 Second Edition OS map 1853
3. PRONI OS/6/1/2/3 Third Edition OS Map 1906
4. PRONI OS/6/1/2/4 Fourth Edition OS Map 1921-31
5. PRONI OS/6/1/2/5 Fifth Edition OS Map 1946-50
6. PRONI OS/8/42/1-2 – Town Plans of Portrush (1895-6)
7. PRONI VAL/12/A/1/120Valuer’s notes 1906
8. PRONI VAL/12/B/6/2A-E Annual Revisions (1864-1929)
9. PRONI VAL/12/B/4/22A-D Annual Revisions (1864-1929)
10. PRONI VAL/3/C/1/30 First General Revaluation 1933-57
11. PRONI VAL/3/D/1/15/A/21 First General Revaluation 1933-57
12. 1901 census online
13. 1911 census online
14. HB file – 03/010/005B
15. Belfast Newsletter 15th June 1889
16. Irish Times 21st February 1953

Secondary Sources

1. Girvan, W D “Historic Buildings, Groups of Buildings, Areas of Architectural Importance in North Antrim including the towns of Portrush, Ballymoney and Bushmills” Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1975

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest
R. Age
S. Authenticity

Evaluation

A mid-Victorian two-bay three storey terraced townhouse with projecting bay window, built 1867 and located to the east side of Kerr Street overlooking the harbour in Portrush town centre. Some alterations including dormer windows and replacement fenestration detract from its original character, but otherwise displaying proportions and detailing typical of the mid-Victorian period. As one of three, the building also remains of interest as part of an important group; alongside the neighbouring terrace (HB03/10/007A-C), numbers 29-31 are of special interest as one of the earliest surviving examples of Victorian waterfront development in the town.

General comments

Listing Criteria R - Age and S also applies.