34 VICTORIA SQUARE

The Department's description

Historical information

The present Victoria Square is compromised of three blocks of dwellings developed in stages between 1882 and 1903, with several detached other properties to the north and south sides added at various stages in the mid to later 20th century. The Square opens off Shore Road, which was cut in 1877 to accommodate the new Warrenpoint and Rostrevor Tramline, and which undoubtedly helped spur the development of this particular part of the village. The first of the three blocks, built in or just before 1882, was the pair of semis to the south-eastern corner, present nos.42-44, originally known as ‘Glenmore Terrace’. This was followed by Victoria Terrace (nos.34-38) on the eastern side in 1886-87, and Albert Terrace (nos.14-22) to the north, between 1898 and 1903.

Victoria Terrace was developed by David Mahood and James McMurray (for more on these individuals see HB16/06/064A-E), but the identity of the architect is not known. The first occupant of No.34, at the north end of the group, was Edward Robinson Durant, a Yorkshire-born merchant, who seems to have lived there from c.1887 to 1897. He was succeeded by John McCullagh (or McCullough), whom the valuations suggest remained here until c.1908, however, in the 1901 census, siblings Amy and Charlie McCullough are noted as the residents, with the house (oddly) described as a ‘2nd class’ residence with 15 rooms in use.

Ellen (or Eleanor) Gywnne is named as the householder in 1908. Miss Gywnne appears to have lived here with her father running the property as a lodging house. The Gywnnes were followed by Frederick Beatty in 1915 and Anne Wilmot in 1922. A Dr. [?Kyle] Humphries is listed as the occupant in 1941, Dr. B. McLaughlin in 1956, John N. Livingstone in 1963, Rev. Charles Mullan (or Mollan) in 1964 and Desmond Nash in 1971.

A May 1922 newspaper advert for the sale of two houses in the terrace (although, unfortunately we do not know which two), describes both houses as containing ‘drawing, dining and morning rooms, bathroom, WC…[and] several large and airy bedrooms. There is a small garden plot in front of each house, and a good yard with outbuildings to the rear.’

References - Primary sources
1 PRONI VAL12B/19/21A-F, Rostrevor ED - 1865-1929
2 ‘Belfast and Province of Ulster Directory’, (Belfast, various dates) - 1890-
3 Census of Ireland - 1901, 1911 (online accessed 24 Sept 2021])
4 OS map, Co. Down sheet 54 - 1902
5 ‘Belfast Evening Telegraph’ - 7 April 1913, p.6
5 OS map, Co. Down sheet 54 - 1919
6 ‘Belfast News-Letter’ - 22 May 1922, p.7
7 PRONI VAL3C/4/23 First General Revaluation of NI, Rostrevor ED - 1936-57
8 OS map, Co. Down sheet 54 - 1950
9 PRONI VAL4B/3/81 Second General Revaluation of NI, Rostrevor ED - 1956-72
10 OS map, sheet 277 - 1979