44 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 other detached 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.

This house and its attached neighbour - collectively named ‘Glenmore Terrace’ - were constructed in 1882 by John Mahood, but the identity of the architect is not known (for more on the Mahood family and their developments in this area see HB16/06/064A-E). According to the valuation records, the original occupant of no.44 was Edward Brooks, who is noted as living there in 1883. The sequence of occupation for the decade or so after this is difficult is decipher from the valuation book, but it would appear that Elizabeth E. Mahood was the next resident, with the property listed as being in the hands of the 'Girls Friendly Society’ in 1901, Margaret Weir in 1902, Theodore Livingstone in 1907, [?J.] McCartan in 1910, Henrietta Robinson in 1919, John A Loverock in 1920 and Julia Loverock in 1929. The property had taken on the name ‘Windermere’ by at least 1906.

Mary Best is recorded as the tenant in 1936, leasing the property from Gertrude Hinds. Eileen Hussey de Burgh became the householder c.1959 with ‘Abbeyfield Newry & District Society Ltd’ listed as the occupant in 1966-67. The property was seemingly vacant by 1972.

References - Primary sources
1 PRONI VAL12B/19/21A-F, Rostrevor ED - 1865-1929
2 OS map, Co. Down sheet 54 - 1902
3 ‘Newry Reporter’ - 3 May 1906, p.8; 2 November 1911, p.4
4 OS map, Co. Down sheet 54 - 1919
5 PRONI VAL3C/4/23 First General Revaluation of NI, Rostrevor ED - 1936-57
6 OS map, Co. Down sheet 54 - 1950
7 PRONI VAL4B/3/81 Second General Revaluation of NI, Rostrevor ED - 1956-72
8 OS map, sheet 277 - 1979