Water Superintendent’s house

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two-storey/ three-bay granite dwelling of L plan. There is a shallow projecting return at the left end of the south-facing elevation and one-storey outbuildings enclosing a yard at the rear.

The walls of the house are of squared and coursed granite rubble over a chamfered plinth and with finely dressed quoins. The gabled roof has natural slates, projecting gable copings which rise from moulded knee stones, and cast-iron rainwater goods over projecting eaves courses. There is a stepped ashlar chimney at each end of the main section of roof.

On the south elevation, a slated veranda supported by three red-painted cast-iron columns runs from the left-hand return. At the west end of this veranda, adjoining the return, is the main entrance which has a plain timber door and finely-dressed jambs. All the south elevation windows have finely dressed segmental heads and jambs, splayed cills and 2/2 sliding sashes. Those on the ground floor on either side of the door are paired; there are three single lights on the first floor (one of which is on the gabled section at left). The projecting gable bears the inscription '1900', indicating its date of construction.

The west elevation has a single window at the right hand side of the ground floor and two windows to the first floor placed symmetrically. Details as for south elevation.

The north (rear) elevation has a gable to the right hand end and a small single storey flat roofed extension off centre towrds the right with a modern top hung casement window. The single storey buildings to the yard abut the left hand ground floor. There is a modern timber sheeted door centrally located in the left hand bay and two windows, detailed as before, to the first floor of this bay.

A high wall at the rear encloses a yard containing one-storey monopitched buildings abutting the insides of the east and west walls; the latter projects out from the line of the dwelling and contains a chimney. There are vehicular entrance doors along the back wall of the yard.

Historical information

This house was designed by L. L. Macassey, Engineer to the Belfast City and District Water Commissioners, and built by P.McAleenan a Castlewellan building contractor, in 1900. It was envisaged that its occupier would look after the reservoir which was to be constructed in the Annalong Valley as part of the BCDWC Mourne Scheme to supply Belfast with water. From 1901, water was diverted off the Kilkeel and Annalong Rivers to supply the conduit. Owing to difficulties with the construction of the dam across the Kilkeel River (the Silent Valley), the Dunnywater Reservoir proposal was abandoned. The entrance gates (HB16/01/028) to the Dunnywater Estate were also built by McAleenan at this time.

Primary Sources:
1. DOE Water Service, Westland House, Old Westland Road, Belfast- drawings 2D49, 2D50, 3A70a.
2. PRONI-BCDWC Works Committee minutes 15 Dec 1989, 23 Feb 1899, 22 May 1899, 6 Nov 1899 (WAT 1/3AC2).

Secondary Sources:
1. Belfast City and District Water Commissioners, 'The Mourne Scheme: development of the Silent Valley and Annalong Valley catchments', (Belfast 1959), p16.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
I. Quality and survival of Interior
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

V. Authorship
W. Northern Ireland/International Interest
Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance

Evaluation

This house is of considerable formal architectural character - in terms of itsstyle, proportion, understated embellishment, and simple yet functional plan form in an area which is otherwise generally devoid of all but vernacular buildings. Its original internal room configurationis still respected, along with original features. It is of historical interest and group value in its association with Belfast's water supply scheme.