2 CLIFTON TERRACE

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A three-storey two-bay mid-terrace blackstone townhouse, built 1873 and located to the south side of Main Street in Castlerock town centre. Rectangular plan with two-storey canted bay to front and two-storey return to rear.

Pitched natural slate roof with angled ridge tiles, having yellow-brick chimneystack with six clay pots. Cast-iron ogee rainwater goods on rubbed brick eaves with with decorative black and yellow brick banding under. Walling is uncoursed squared blackstone; smooth render to rear elevation. Windows are 2/2 timber sash horizontally divided with horns, in stepped painted brick surrounds and with painted projecting sills; canted bays with painted surrounds and continuous sill course; uPVC windows to second floor in raised cambered heads with applied moulding to jambs.

North-facing with two-storey canted bay at left having leaded roof and moulded cornice over window openings; segmental-headed door opening at ground floor right. Door is double-leaf panelled-and-glazed with segmental-headed transom in a painted brick surround.

The east gable is abutted by adjoining building; HB03/12/002E.

The south (rear) elevation is abutted by a two-storey gabled return, concealed from view by two-storey abutment from neighbouring return.

The west elevation is abutted by adjoining building; HB03/12/002G.

Setting:

Street-fronted and situated to the west of Babington Terrace (HB03/12/002A-D) in the centre of Castlerock. Small yard to rear enclosed by rendered wall with timber-sheeted gate. Communal yard to rear accessed by gravel alley to east and west. Bounded to railway line at south by modern metal fencing.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: Uncoursed squared blackstone
Windows: Timber sash
RWG: Cast-iron

Historical information

The current blackstone terrace of three buildings first enters valuation records in 1873 as vacant houses leased from Joseph Connell, the likely developer. Castlerock, formerly part of the Clothworker’s Company estates, developed along a coastal site near Downhill House following the opening of a railway halt in 1853 (McCutcheon). This, along with active promotion by the railway company, who offered cheap tickets to those who would build or buy villas (Girvan), led to the growth of a bathing resort in an area which had previously been open countryside. (Eccles) Sir Henry Hervey Bruce, the local landlord, took a particular interest in the development of Castlerock and required all new building there to be of a certain quality and size. (www.dia.ie; Eccles)

The first occupant to be noted was Mrs Linton, who occupied this house and its neighbour at number one from 1874. The valuation was £16 and the house was leased from Sir Henry Hervey Bruce. This house and its neighbour were taken over in 1892 by Jane Alcorn, grocer, who appears to have run this house as a holiday let, while living next door. In 1892 the house was advertised to let for the month of July, the house comprising two reception rooms, four bedrooms, servants’ apartments, eight bedrooms in all, kitchen scullery, pantries, ‘all in perfect order’. (Belfast Newsletter)

Samuel Dallas took over the house c1910 and was followed by George Dallas (1911), Rebecca Dallas (1923), Minnie Tosh (1930), Kathleen Cunningham (1947), N Joyce (1956) and Robert Sutcliffe (1966).

Valuer’s notes of the 1930s give a plan of the house with a rear return and separate single-storey outbuilding. The accommodation comprises, on the ground floor: a kitchen, reception, scullery and pantry, on the first floor: a room, bedroom, bathroom and WC and on the second floor: three bedrooms with an attic bedroom on the third floor.

The house was listed in 1977 and in the mid to late 1980s renovations were carried out to the roof, windows and doors. (HB file)
References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/5/2/1 First Edition OS Map 1831
2. PRONI OS/6/5/2/2 Second Edition OS map 1848
3. PRONI OS/6/5/2/3 Third Edition OS Map 1904
4. PRONI OS/6/5/2/4 Fourth Edition OS Map 1923
5. PRONI VAL/12/A/5/5 Valuer’s Notes 1909
6. PRONI VAL/12/B/30/10A-F Annual Revisions (1864-1929)
1. PRONI VAL/3/C/6/2 First General Revaluation 1933-57
2. PRONI VAL/3/D/6/3/H/6 First General Revaluation 1933-57
7. HB file – 03/12/002E-G
8. Belfast Newsletter 21st June 1892

Secondary Sources

1. Eccles, J “Downhill, A Scrapbook of People and Place” London: Bath Press, 1996
2. Girvan, W D “Historic Buildings, Groups of Buildings, Areas of Architectural Importance in North Derry including Limavady, Ballykelly, Castlerock, Downhill and Magilligan” Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1975
3. McCutcheon, W.A. “The Industrial Archaeology of Northern Ireland,” London: HMSO, 1980.
4. www.dia.ie

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
S. Authenticity

Evaluation

A late-Victorian three-storey two-bay blackstone mid-terrace townhouse, built 1873 and located to the south side of Main Street in Castlerock. Some replacement fabric, including fenestration, but retaining much of its late-Victorian character. The house has important group value as part of a terrace and, along with Babington Terrace (HB03/12/002A-D) to east, makes an important contribution to the architectural character of Castlerock.