Belmont Terrace

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Three-storey/ three-bay house (with basement and additional bay at north) on west side of Downshire Road.

Natural slate hipped double-pile roof. A number of painted render chimneys rise from the roof at different points. Rainwater goods are cast iron.

Wall to façade, which faces east, is three openings wide. It is line rendered with a broad smooth base course and banded rustication to ground floor. There is a raised render platband between ground and first floors, a continuous render cill course at first floor level, and a thin platband between first and second floors. At second floor cill level is a projecting moulded cornice. At second floor window head level is a further cornice and blocking course above. Second floor cill and blocking course have modern scalloped lead flashings.

Main entrance is to central bay at ground floor within a bow fronted porch supported by four fluted Tuscan painted cast iron columns. A semicircular plinth of three granite steps supports the columns with plinth blocks integral with top steps. The front two columns are free-standing and separate the plinth into three equal openings. The remaining two are partly attached to the façade, with doorway between. The porch canopy has a smooth render frieze divided by an astragal and is capped by a projecting roll moulded cornice with blocking course over. Breaking the blocking course in line with each column is a semicircular-headed block. The porch floor is granite paved.

Front door is six panelled (each raised and fielded with a bolection mould) with beaded muntin, and a central vertical Victorian letterbox. Door jamb has reeded reveals. To either side of door is a pair of granite pilasters with projecting granite plinth and moulded heads, supporting a moulded granite entablature. Between each set of pilasters is a plain fixed sidelight with projecting granite cill and coffered apron panel. Over entablature is a wide, shallow segmental headed fanlight. Its glazing pattern is a symmetrical design consisting of a large hoop over door with small rings to cardinal points. This design is repeated three times on either side, each hoop diminishing in size as fanlight tapers.

To ground floor right bay is a margin paned 6/6 sliding sash window (with horns) and painted granite cill. At left of porch is a one-storey projecting bay. Its walls are painted lined render with basecourse as that to façade. It has a projecting roll moulded cornice with blocking course over (as porch). On blocking course, to left, centre and right, are raised semicircular headed blocks (as porch). The bay contains two 1/1 sliding sash windows (with horns) to front, with similar single windows to each cheek, all with painted granite cills.

To first floor are three equally spaced 6/6 sliding sash windows (without horns), in line with ground floor openings. Each has a moulded architrave which continues down from cill course to platband between ground and first floors and forms a panelled apron moulding between. Each architrave head has a plain frieze with projecting moulded cornice. To second floor, there are three modern two-paned recessed casement windows, in line with windows below but less than half as high. There is a raised panel to each wall section.

Flanking either end facade is a pedimented single-storey distyle in antis (i.e. portico with two columns between pilasters). Three granite steps (with granite retaining blocks to either side) lead up to each portico which is granite paved. To either side of portico are smooth rendered piers with raised basecourses and coffered panels to shaft. Each is topped with a moulded cornice topped with semicircular-headed block with similar coffered inset panel. Abutting pier reveals are pilasters with raised bases resting on top step and moulded heads supporting an entablature. Entablature has a stepped astragal to frieze and a moulded cornice (a continuation of those to side piers), and is additionally supported by two fluted painted cast iron Tuscan columns resting on top step. Over entablature and between each coffered pier cap is a shallow pediment.

Portico to left of facade is in poor repair with spalling render and damaged slate lean-to roof abuttting the back of the pediment. It is currently undergoing repair. Its inside walls are rendered with raised base course and blind doorway to centre (with a tapering eared moulded architrave and head).

Portico to right of facade now forms entrance to a later first floor extension which abuts the right elevation of the main house. Its inside walls are line render, with a doorway through at centre (detailed as main entrance, but sidelights are four paned with margins to top and sides). The first floor facade of the extension rises from the pediment and is slightly stepped back from the main façade. Wall is lined render with projecting moulded cornice and blocking course over. At centre of façade is a 6/6 sliding sash window (with horns). Its cill is a continuation of the cill course on the main block. It also has a moulded architrave as others to first floor, but without apron panel. Remainder of this extension will be described with right elevation.

To immediate right of extension is a smooth rendered single-storey yard wall to centre of which is a t+g sheeted door with granite step. At right of this wall, and also flanking left portico is an ashlar granite wall containing a semi-elliptical arch with rendered head and projecting rendered coping above. Both contain a pair of sheeted timber doors.

Left elevation of main block is painted lined render. The middle section is three openings wide and projects from the general line of the wall; its gable is pedimented and is now flashed with scalloped lead. At left and right are flanking sections, both blank and topped with a cornice and blocking course continued from front elevation. This gable is abutted at ground floor left by a single-storey extension which rises to a two-storey return at centre. Exposed section of main block has, at ground floor right, granite steps leading down to a basement passage which runs below the abutting extension. Here there is a single 2/2 paired casement window with granite cill and security bars at right. To centre of basement is a large opening on which building work is currently in progress. Much of the basement render is gone revealing granite blocks with brick snecking. Ground floor wall is raised slightly at right to accommodate an internal niche and is blank. At first floor, flanking the two-storey extension, is a window opening (possibly once 6/6), now infilled with lined render and with painted granite cills. At second floor middle is a 6/6 sliding sash (with horns) and painted granite cill. To its right, in line with blind opening below, is a single 3/3 sliding sash window (without horns). To its left is a similar opening which has been infilled with concrete blockwork.

The abutting extension has painted smooth render walls with broad base course (seems to have been the retaining wall of basement). The single storey section has hipped natural slate roof with semicircular metal gutters on plain projecting fascia boards. On its south-facing wall and left cheek each have a horizontally divided 2/2 sliding sash windows (with horns). The two-storey middle section has a monopitch natural slate roof. At ground floor left is a door with pair of narrow two-panelled (top glazed) leafs, and eight-pane transom. To right of this door is a 2/2 sliding sliding sash window, as those to one-storey section but with obscured glass. At first floor are two 2/2 sliding sashes, that at left being narrower. Remaining cheeks to extension are all blank.

Wall to rear elevation of main block is painted lined cement render, with unpainted similar basement across which there is a passage. There is a chamfered platband between basement and ground floor. Between ground and first floor is a broad raised platband. At first floor is a continuous cill course and there is a raised eaves course (without blocking course above). There are five nearly equally spaced openings to each floor, all in line with each other. Left basement window has been enlarged to form pair of modern French windows. The remaining four basement windows are 3/3 sliding sashes (no horns) with painted granite cills; the three at right have security bars over. Ground floor left and right windows are 6/6 sliding sashes. The remaining three to centre are French windows. The second from left is a 6/6 sliding sash with hinged apron doors providing access outside. Third from left contains a narrow pair of glazed and panelled French windows with two paned transoms over. Fourth from left is identical and leads into an abutting link block which bridges the basement passage and leads into a free-standing games room in rear garden. This link has a pitched glazed roof and glazed sides over a rendered base course. To first floor are five equally spaced 6/6 sliding sashes (all without horns except left two). At second floor are five 3/3 sliding sashes, all diminished in height (and all without horns).

Right elevation is abutted to ground and first floors by a two-storey extension, the facade of which has been described in relation to façade of main block. Remaining section of main gable (ie. right-hand sections of ground and first floors, and all of second floor) is painted lined render. Middle section of wall breaks forward slightly and has a pedimented gable as left elevation. There are three openings to second floor, all diminished in height: those to centre and left are 3/3 sliding sashes (without horns) and that to right is now infilled with concrete blockwork.

The two-storey extension has a flat roof concealed by blocking course to facade and has painted eaves boards and semicircular rainwater goods to side. Walls are lined render. Basement wall is raised with chamfered platband between basement and ground floor. At basement is a 3/3 top-hung casement window to left and to centre, both lit by semicircular grills set into ground surface. There are three openings to ground floor. That to left is infilled, and the remaining two are 6/6 sliding sashes (with horns) and painted granite cills. Above each window is a recessed rectangular panel. To first floor, at right of centre, is a 6/6 sliding sash window (with horns) and painted granite cill. To its right is a small narrow 4/4 sliding sash (with horns) and painted render cill.

Abutting right cheek of this extension is a single storey lean-to with natural slate roof. Its north-facing elevation is blank. Its right cheek (to rear elevation) has a modern plywood and glass door to basement left and a 3/3 sliding sash with horizontal bars and painted granite cill to basement right. To ground floor is a modern plywood and glass door, to the right of which is a 6/6 sliding sash (with horns).

Games Room

A single-storey/ single-bay building in rear garden, aligned parallel to main block, with which it is linked by a glazed passage. It will be described as viewed towards back of main block. Hipped natural slate roof with wrought iron finial to right hip (left one missing). Overhanging eaves with fretted bargeboards. A tall red brick chimney rises up right gable. Semicircular metal gutters (mostly missing). Unrendered red brick walls.

Principal façade faces west to garden. At left is a canted bay with hipped natural slate roof (no rain water goods). It has a brick base up to cill level, three 1/1 sliding sash windows (one per cant), and a timber moulded dentil course at eaves level. At right on this elevation is a 2/2 (vertically divided) sliding sash window with exposed box, timber cill and moulded timber architrave.

Right gable has central projecting brick chimney and no openings. Left gable is abutted at left by glazed linking passage to main block. Wall at left has four-panel painted timber door into games room.

The rear elevation is abutted to left by a single storey return. At right is a 2/2 sliding sash as front wall right.

Return has a pitched natural slate roof. Back gable has a single 2/2 sliding sash (as that to façade). Right cheek has a t+g sheeted door to extreme right and a small two paned casement to its immediate left. Left elevation is plain.

Miscellaneous buildings

On south boundary of premises, in back garden, is a two-storey random rubble granite outhouse in semi derelict condition. Remnants of original doors and windows survive. Behind this are two derelict lean-to outhouses within a walled enclosure. On right boundary is a smooth rendered and much altered two-storey outhouse of similar dimensions to that on left. Now with modern garage door and window openings.

Setting

Large gardens to front and rear, mostly overgrown. Entrances at each end of front boundary, with curving driveway up to front façade. Rubble granite front boundary wall with simple ashlar block piers and pyramidal coping. Modern metal gates. Benchmark in wall to left of right-hand gates.

Historical information

A sand and clay pit are shown at this location on the 1834 map. Valuation book of 1838 notes occupant as George Ogle Godfrey, indicating that house erected in mid 1830s. Described in an 1846 publication as ‘a splendid new building’. Cited on 1858 OS map as ‘Belmont Terrace’, suggesting that perhaps sub-divided into two separate houses by that date. In 1863, one of these houses was vacant and the other was occupied by Robert Todd. A map of Newry of mid 19th century date shows the building before the right extension was added and the attic raised to accommodate a second floor.

Primary Sources:

1. OS 6" map, 1st edition (1834) Co Down sheet 46, PRONI OS 6/3/46/1
2. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI VAL 1B/ 389, p.55
3. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI VAL 1D/3/8A.:
4. OS 6" map, 2nd edition (1858) Co Down sheet 46, PRONI OS 6/3/46/2
5. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI VAL 2B/3/69G, p.67.
6. Archaeological Survey Co Down, pp 426-27 (entry 417.16).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H+. Alterations enhancing the building
I. Quality and survival of Interior

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Three-storey/ three-bay house with symmetrical single storey 'pavilions.' As originally built, this was a symmetrical arrangement of classical proportions. The first floor extension at right is of some historical interest in illustrating the sub-division of the building, albeit at the expense of the overall composition. The complex internal plan form is of interest. In the context of Newry as a whole, it is one of the most impressive examples of mid 19th century villa architecture.

General comments

Now includes the archway that was previously numbered HB16/26/021A.