3 CLIFTON TERRACE

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A three-storey two-bay end-terrace blackstone townhouse, built c.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 gabled return to rear abutted by rubblestone gabled outbuilding.

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

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; HB03/12/002F.

The south (rear) elevation has two windows to second floor; abutted at left by the gabled two-storey return, which has a window to first floor left and is abutted at right by the rubblestone gabled outbuilding with slated roof and red-brick quoins.

The west elevation is blank, abutted by neighbouring garage wall.

Setting:

Set back from road having concrete plinth wall with saddleback coping enclosing concrete yard. Situated to the west of Babington Terrace (HB03/12/002A-D) in the centre of Castlerock. Communal yard to rear accessed via gravel alleys at east and west of terrace. Bounded to railway line at south by modern metal fencing.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: Coursed blackstone with snecking
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 in 1879 was Joseph Connell, the likely developer of the terrace. The house was valued at £16 and leased from Sir Henry Hervey Bruce. In 1896 the house was taken over by Alexander McCoy and by Mary Robinson in 1909. The same year the house was improved and the valuation raised to £21. The rent was £34 and the valuer’s notes give a plan of the building showing extensions to the rear. The house had been purchased for £500 including £50 for furniture.

Mary Robinson is listed in the 1911 census and had a private income, deriving from the ‘interest of money’. She was being visited by a friend, a hospital trained nurse from County Monaghan. Robinson was followed by Marion J Connell (1924) Catherine A Tosh (1925) Jack Campbell (1960) and William John McIntyre (1966).

Valuer’s notes of the 1930s give a plan of the building with two-storey return and adjoining passageway. A further 1½ storey outbuilding lies beyond the passageway. Accommodation comprises, on the ground floor: a kitchen, scullery pantry and two receptions, on the first floor: five bedrooms, a bathroom and WC and on the second floor: two bedrooms.

The house was listed in 1977 and in the 1980s renovations were carried out including a replacement front door. (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
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
S. Authenticity
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A late-Victorian three-storey two-bay blackstone end-terrace townhouse, built 1873 and located to the south side of Main Street in Castlerock. The best preserved example in the terrace, number 3 retains much of its architectural detailing including fenestration. As an example of a typical late-Victorian townhouse the building is of special interest, and has important group value as part of a terrace of three. Along with Babington Terrace (HB03/12/002A-D) to east, Clifton Terrace makes an important contribution to the architectural character of Castlerock.