37 Kerr Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A mid-Victorian two-bay three-storey rendered terraced townhouse with attic; built c.1860 and located to the east side of Kerr Street in Portrush. Square on plan with two-storey return and single-storey flat-roof extension to rear.

Pitched natural slate roof with angled ridge tiles and parapet; rendered chimneystack having tall clay pots. Cast-iron half-round rainwater goods to rear. Walling is roughcast render with smooth rendered straight quoins and eaves band having moulded cornice. Windows are replacement uPVC in smooth surrounds with projecting stone sills, surmounted by label moulds.

The principal elevation faces west and is three openings wide at each floor. Bolection-moulded four-panelled timber door to left, accessed by three concrete steps and surmounted by plain transom light; flanked by panelled pilasters with corniced canopy on decorative console brackets.

The north elevation is abutted by adjoining building; HB03/10/007C.

The east elevation has three small skylights to roof and two windows at second floor. Abutted at right by the two-storey return; left cheek has two windows to upper floors over modern flat-roof extension. Extension is flush with gable and both contain modern folding doors; window to first floor over.

The south gable is abutted by adjoining building; HB03/10/007A.

Setting:

Street-fronted overlooking Portrush harbour. Decorative cast-iron arrow-head railings on a stone plinth wall encloses paving to front. A row of two-storey rendered outbuildings runs to the rear of the terrace, servicing each of the houses. Outbuildings have slated roof with terracotta ridge tiles. That to number 37 has been converted into a garage with replacement timber casement windows over modern up-and-over garage door and modern timber door.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: Roughcast render
Windows: uPVC
RWG: Cast-iron

Historical information

The current terrace of three houses was built in 1859/60 just as the fashionable bathing resort of Portrush was experiencing a dramatic expansion due to the arrival of a railway branch line from Coleraine in 1855. Initially named ‘Clarence Terrace’ the group of three first enter valuation records as unfinished dwellings in 1859 and measurements are given for each house, rear return and separate outbuilding. The valuer describes the group as new houses ‘well built and tolerably well finished’. The terrace was built by Thomas Black and numbers 37 and 38 were valued at £30. By 1863 all the houses had acquired tenants and in the 1870s the group was renamed ‘Charlotte Terrace’.

The first occupier to be noted in number 37 was Samuel McClintock in 1863 followed by James Hannay (1872) John R Meath (1874)and Miss McClintock (1879). In 1884 the house became the police barrack for Portrush, but this usage was shortlived and the house returned to domestic use in 1889 when it became the home of Matilda Bryan. Number 37 is listed in valuation records in the 1890s as ‘Marine House’. From 1897 Marine House was the home of Captain F H Watt who was a County Councillor and Director of Portrush Harbour Company and also a steamboat agent and coal merchant. (Street Directories; 1901 census) In 1901 Watt was living at the house with his sisters and two domestic servants. By 1911 his sisters were living at the house with their cousin and a domestic servant. The older, sister, Mary was working as a clerk and the ten-room house was designated first class. (1901, 1911 census) Valuer’s notes of the 1930s list the accommodation as two receptions, seven bedrooms, a kitchen, scullery and WC.

The Watts remained resident for some years and in the 1940s and 50s the house is listed as the property of J R Watt & Son. The building was listed in 1977 and the interior has since been thoroughly modernised and the windows replaced. The house remains in use as a domestic dwelling.

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/2/B/1/30B – Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64)
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 – 03/010/007B

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
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest
R. Age
S. Authenticity

Evaluation

A two-bay three-storey rendered terraced townhouse with attic; built c.1860 and located to the east side of Kerr Street overlooking Portrush harbour. Displaying proportions and detailing typical of the mid-Victorian period, much of the original character has been preserved. Prominently sited, the building is one in a terrace of three and the group is one of the earliest surviving examples of Victorian waterfront development in the town. Of special architectural and historic interest, the terrace makes an important contribution to the historic character of Portrush.

General comments

Listing Criteria R - Age; and S - Authenticity also apply.