32 Lodge Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A terraced three-storey-over-basement former townhouse with attic, now in use as a commercial premises; built c.1860 and located to the east side of Lodge Road in Coleraine. Rectangular plan with two-storey return and modern two-storey extension with linking block connecting original two-storey outbuilding to rear.

Pitched natural slate roof with blue/black angled ridge tiles and rendered chimneystacks. Cast-iron half-round rainwater goods on moulded eaves. Walling is painted smooth render with raised quoins; roughcast painted render to rear. Windows are 1/1 timber sash without horns in moulded architraves with projecting painted sills; 3/6 windows in plain reveals to basement; 6/6 timber sash to rear.

The principal elevation faces southwest and is four openings wide with entrance to ground floor right. Entrance comprises modern metal door with sidelights and transom light, flanked by pilasters and surmounted by a pedimented entablature. Entrance accessed via concrete step with curved plinth wall to left side.

The northwest elevation is abutted by adjoining building (HB03/17/003O).

The northeast (rear) elevation has window at second floor left over two-storey return, and to right at upper floor. At ground floor right is a flat-roof corridor extension connecting return of neighbouring building (HB03/17/003P). Return has, at southeast elevation, a canted bay oriel window over ground floor window; abutted at northeast by the modern two-storey extension with linking block connecting the two-storey former outbuilding to rear.

The southeast gable has two 2/1 diminutive windows to attic; 2/2 windows with margin panes to second and first floor left; window to first floor right. At ground floor right are two windows and a two-panelled-and-glazed timber door with cast-iron door furniture, surmounted by a small concrete canopy and accessed via a concrete step.

Setting:

Situated to the east side of Lodge Road in Coleraine town centre. Set back from the street with a paved concrete yard to front, shared with number 30 (HB03/17/003O) Yard is enclosed at right by a hedge and to street by a painted render wall on a contrasting plinth, with saddleback coping and square piers having pointed caps; cast-iron latch-gate to entrance at right.

Tarmacadamed alley to southeast gives access to car-park at east. Small yard to rear of building, enclosed by the two-storey outbuilding. Outbuilding forms part of a terrace and has painted roughcast rendered walls and a slate roof; modified with modern window insertions.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: Painted smooth render
Windows: 1/1 timber sash
RWG: Cast-iron

Historical information

The current dwelling dates from c1860 and is part of a development of sixteen houses built between c1859 and c1888 for Coleraine’s rising middle classes. The terrace is first shown on the large scale map of Coleraine dating from 1882 and the group of four houses (numbers 26-32), of which the current dwelling forms part was the first section of the terrace to be built, being inserted into valuation records c1860. These four houses are named ‘Waterford Terrace’ on the large-scale and valuation maps of the 1880s and differ from the later houses in the terrace, all having been built with basement storeys. The terrace was considered to be on the best, because sunniest, side of Lodge Road and was occupied largely by middle-class merchants and professionals who kept at least one servant. Lodge Road was laid out between 1833 and 1845, being first shown on O’Hagan’s map of Coleraine dating from 1845 and is named after ‘The Lodge’, a dwelling house at the southern end (now replaced by a hotel). The closing decades of the nineteenth century saw a building boom of terraces and villas in Coleraine of which local people were extremely proud. The boom is said to have begun when Thomas Boyd, builder and elder in New Row Presbyterian church, built Waterford Terrace, which was named after the Marquess of Waterford who owned much land locally. The houses were all let by December 1859. (Mullin)

The present house, offices, yard and small garden was initially valued at £30 and £1 for the garden, occupied by Mrs Stott and leased from Thomas Boyd the developer. At the time of the 1901 census the occupier was Robert McClenahan, the Presbyterian minister of First Coleraine from 1894-1905 who lived with his wife and employed a general domestic servant. By 1911 the house had been taken over by Robert Beatty Wylie, minister of Terrace Row Presbyterian church, Coleraine from 1871 to 1913 who lived with his wife and two children and also employed a general domestic (1911 census; History of Congregations). The house passed to James Foulis in 1916, Robert Hunter in 1920 and Violet McFeeter in 1936.

Valuer’s notes of the 1930s list the accommodation as, in the basement a kitchen, scullery and coal house, on the ground floor, two receptions, kitchen, scullery, on the first floor, one reception, three bedrooms and a bathroom and on the second floor, three bedrooms and on the third floor two attic bedrooms. The house had water laid on and gas lighting at this time and a plan is given showing the house, return, and wash house and an outbuilding at the bottom of the yard that is still present.

The house was listed in 1977 at which time it appears to have been occupied as a single unit with its neighbour number 30. Renovations and repairs took place in the 1980s and 90s and the building is currently in use as office accommodation (HB file).
References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/5/7/1 First Edition OS Map 1830
2. PRONI OS/6/5/7/2 Second Edition OS map 1849-50
3. PRONI OS/6/5/7/3 Third Edition OS Map 1904
4. PRONI OS/6/5/7/4 Fourth Edition OS Map 1923
5. PRONI OS/6/5/7/5 Fifth Edition OS Map 1949
6. PRONI VAL/12A/5/11-13 Valuer’s Notes 1900-1912
7. PRONI VAL/12/B/30/9A-N Annual Revisions (1864-1929)
8. PRONI VAL/3/C/6/4 First General Revaluation 1933-57
9. PRONI VAL/3/D/6/2/H/23-24 First General Revaluation 1933-57
10. HB file – 03/17/003A-P
11. 1901/1911 census online

Secondary Sources

1. “A History of Congregations in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 1610-1982” authorised by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Belfast: Presbyterian Historical Society of Ireland, 1982 (available at www.presbyterianhistoryireland.com)
2. Girvan, W D “Historic Buildings, Groups of Buildings, Areas of Architectural Importance in Coleraine and Portstewart” Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1971-2
3. Mullin, Rev T H “Coleraine in Modern Times” Belfast: Century Services Ltd, 1979

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 terraced three-storey-over-basement former townhouse with attic, now in use as a commercial premises; built c.1860 and located to the east side of Lodge Road in Coleraine. Some loss of integrity through alterations and refurbishments, and a modern extension to rear connecting a former outbuilding. Despite this, the building retains some good examples of typical mid-Victorian detailing and forms part of an important and prominent group (HB03/17/003A-P) situated in the heart of Coleraine, a town largely characterised by its development within the Victorian era. The terrace is one of the best preserved examples of mid-to-late-nineteenth century terraced architecture, displaying proportions and details typical of the period. Making an important contribution to the architectural character of Coleraine town centre the terrace is also of significant local interest.

General comments

Additional listing criteria apply - R-Age, S- Authenticity.