Merryview

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A 3 bay wide 2 storey terrace house. Elevation to North Street has a central panelled door with shallow rectangular fanlight and a moulded plaster architrave and keystone, on each side a double hung sliding sash 2 pane window with similar architrave and keystone rising form painted cills. At 1st floor 3 similar windows but each a little narrower. Wall smooth rendered and painted with plinth and rusticated plaster quoins. ½ round metal gutter with single downpipe. Roof with natural slates, simple ridge tile, large chimney stack at each end. No. 14 gable rises high above No. 13.

The rear of the house has had its windows altered and now has a variety of modern windows without back return. Wall roughcast rendered, unpainted, rear roof asbestos slates. PVC gutter and downpipe.

The house is part of terrace between Quay Road and Strandview Road and where the road gradient begins to climb.

Historical information

Precise date of building not known but it appears for the first time on the OS map of 1855. Stylistically its front façade may be dated approximately to the mid-19th century.In the past the house belonged to a Captain Black circa 1958, later the Bakewell family. The present owner was of the opinion that the house replaced two earlier houses. Interior substantially refurbished since 2000.
The building lies within the area of an ancient monument, Ant 5:22

References – Primary Sources
1. OS Map 1855, Co Antrim 5.
2. Notes of 1st Survey EHS

Secondary Sources
1. UAHS, Glens of Antrim (Belfast, 1971), p 51 (item 27).
2. DOENI, Ballycastle Conservation Area (HMSO, ND), p 51.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

This is a modest 2-storey early-to-mid 19th century house which retains its essential original appearance to the main entrance front, and its plan form. It is complementary to the character of the surrounding conservation area and is reminicent of the buildings of this seafront in an earlier era. Inappropriate alterations to the rear elevation and to the interior have reduced some if its inerest however.