31 Kerr Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A mid-Victorian two-bay three-storey end-terrace 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 three-storey return to rear (lower).

Pitched natural slate roof with blue/black angled ridge tiles and rendered chimneystack having five tall clay pots. Cast-iron ogee rainwater goods on moulded eaves course. Walling is smooth 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; 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 hipped roof. Doorcase to ground floor right is accessed by two concrete steps and comprises replacement six-panel timber door surmounted by replacement uPVC transom light. Door is flanked by panelled pilasters and surmounted by corniced canopy on scrolled acanthus leaf console brackets.

The north gable is blank.

The east (rear) elevation has small skylight to ridge line of roof; window to second floor right and abutted at left by the three-storey return (lower).

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

Setting:

Street-fronted overlooking Portrush harbour. High rendered 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 arrow-head railings to each corner on painted render plinth wall.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: Smooth 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 at number 31 is Miss Hill in 1871. Subsequent residents were Andrew Huston (1873) Patrick Mullan (1891) Mrs Whittaker (1892) Sidney Henry Coles (1895) Mrs R Whitaker (1896) and Miss Lindsay (1897). At the time of the 1901 census the house was let to Presbyterian minister John McConnell who lived with his two daughters, both of whom had been born in Australia, and a domestic servant. McConnell had been minister of Brisbane from 1885 until his return to Ireland. (History of Congregations) By 1903, Rev John McConnell had moved into the manse in High Street which had been extended and refurbished to suit his needs. In 1906 a new rear return was added to the house containing two bedrooms and a bathroom and the valuation was raised to £33. By 1911 the dwelling had become a boarding house and Margaret Stewart, a 48-year-old spinster lived there alone.

Valuation notes of the 1930s record the accommodation as three receptions, seven bedrooms, a kitchen, scullery, pantry and WC.
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 have been replaced. Repairs took place to the builidng in the late 1970s including work to the roof, windows and doors. (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 – 03/010/005C

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 and refurbishment, including replacement fenestration throughout, which detracts from the 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.