Downhill Hostel

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A two-storey, three-bay Victorian house, built in 1888, up a short lane off the east side of Mussenden Road, sitting under cliffs at the rear of a large strand; between the house and beach runs the railway. The original building has been extended to the rear in c.2006.

Concrete tiled roof in two pitches (rear is an extension); rendered chimneys with moulded cornices to each gable and central to the rear ridge; timber brackets to eaves; round gutters and downpipes are metal. Walls are lined render to first floor, rusticated render to ground floor with a moulded string between; moulded cills; lugged door architrave. The window and door openings are generally segmental arches, the attic windows are round arched. The windows are replacement 1/1 timber sashes (double glazed). The double-leaf doors are 4 panelled with a single paned overlight.

The main north elevation to the front section of building is symmetrical; the rear addition extends to the right. To the ground floor, either side of the central entrance door, are canted bays over which is a balcony extending between the two to form an open porchway. The balcony has a cast iron balustrade of circular decoration. To the first floor are five windows, paired to the sides.

Side east elevation has a pair of windows to the attic; the first floor has a windows adjacent to each corner; the ground floor has a central window. The rear addition sits back to the south.

Rear south elevation is largely abutted by the modern addition. The rear addition has a door to the N above which is a baclony accessed by French doors, with a balustrade matching that on the front bays.

Side west elevation has a pair of windows to the attic; the first floor has a window to the north side and a door on to the modern balcony; the ground floor has a central pair of windows. The rear addition has a similar pattern of windows with the ground floor extended to the north to form the balcony and to the south housing a conservatory at first floor level.

Setting:
The building sits in a scenic location under the cliffs at the rear of Downhill Strand from which it is divided by the railway line. It is approached down a short lane off Mussenden Road and sits on the eastern edge of a group of buildings. Along the cliff edge to the east can be seen Mussenden temple.

Schedule:
Roof: Concrete tiles
Walls: Render
Windows Replacement timber sashes
RWGs: Metal

Historical information

The present dwelling house, formerly named ‘Glenhassan’ was built in 1888/9 as a seaside retreat by Thomas Hassan, a prominent Nationalist and wine and spirit merchant of Belfast. The building was entered into valuation records in 1888 when it was ‘in progress’ and valued at £30 in 1889. The two and a half storey house then had a two-storey return and the valuer notes that the cost of construction was £600 with a further £100 ‘expended on reservoirs &c’. The building is first shown, captioned ‘Glenhassan’ on the third edition OS map of 1904.

Thomas Hassan was a native of County Derry but as a young man moved to Belfast and began a business as a spirit grocer. He ultimately owned two public houses in Old Lodge Road, one in Agnes Street and a pub and house (known as Strangmore House) in Cliftonpark Avenue where he lived with his family. His business was susceptible to the unsettled times, however, and newspaper reports record that his premises were attacked on a number of occasions, principally in 1879, 1886 (when the damage was particularly severe), 1893 and 1896 (Belfast Newsletter). It was after the damage and looting of his premises in 1886, that Hassan built his seaside home at Downhill.

Thomas Hassan became a prominent citizen, known for his Nationalist convictions but popular ‘not only among his co-religionists, the Roman Catholics, but also among Protestants’. He became a magistrate for County Londonderry and owned a considerable amount of property in various parts of Belfast. He was also known as a generous contributor to charities, serving on the executive committee of the Mater Infirmorum and leaving a significant bequest to the Society of St Vincent de Paul ‘for the benefit of the poor in Belfast’ at his death. He died at his home, Strangmore House, in 1897 at the age of 50, leaving three sons and two daughters, and was buried at Milltown Cemetery (Freeman’s Journal).

The house appears to have been unoccupied for some time following Hassan’s death, although it was let in 1906 to the Misses MacKillip, principals of Victoria Girls’ High School, Londonderry (Irish Times) and the next recorded occupier is John O’Kane in 1921, followed by Rev P Kerlin in 1922. The house then passed to William J Little (1929) and the lease to the house was purchased by James Nielans in 1935 for £950. In the 1930s the interior accommodation was recorded as, on the ground floor; three receptions, a kitchen, pantry and scullery, on the first floor; four bedrooms, a bathroom and WC and on the second floor; four attics. Valuers record the name of the house as ‘Glenhassan Hall’.

The present owners bought the house c2000 and extended the building with the addition of an off-set rear pile c2006, replicating the wrought-iron detailing to the front elevation. The original front pile of the building is in use as a hostel.

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/B/30/10A-F Annual Revisions (1864-1929)
6. PRONI VAL/3/C/6/2 First General Revaluation 1933-57
7. PRONI VAL/3/D/6/3/H/3 First General Revaluation 1933-57
8. Belfast Newsletter 7th May 1872
9. Belfast Newsletter 18th January 1879
10. Belfast Newsletter 10th December 1886
11. Belfast Newsletter 16th June 1893
12. Belfast Newsletter 22nd January 1895
13. Belfast Newsletter 6th February 1897
14. Freeman’s Journal 17th May 1897
15. Belfast Newsletter 18th May 1897
16. Belfast Newsletter 10th June 1897
17. Irish Times 4th August 1906

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A two storey Victorian house, built in 1888, located in a scenic location behind Downhill Strand under the cliffs of the north coast. The house has been altered internally and has a large modern extension. It enjoys an impressive seaside seeting and whilst it is of some architetcural and social interest it is not of sufficient interest to warrant listing.