49 Downshire Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Left one of a terrace of three two-storey (+ semi-basement and attic)/ three-bay buildings on east side of Downshire Road.

Pitched artificial slate roof with two cast iron skylights to rear pitch. Rendered chimneys to each gable; that to right is shared with the adjacent property. Rainwater goods are half round metal with down pipe to right on front elevation and to left on rear elevation (both shared with adjacent property).

Main façade, which faces west, is of unrendered regularly coursed squared granite rubble, with raised eaves course and cement render base course at basement. Main entrance is to middle of front elevation. Four granite and one concrete steps rise to a granite-paved vaulted platform over basement passage. Enclosing each side of steps and platform are cast iron railings with simple decorative spikes (each inset into the stone); there are three upright to each step and four grouped on bottom step. These seem once to have also enclosed the basement passage. To right of door is a metal boot scraper.

Front door is painted timber with six raised and fielded panels with bolection moulding. The muntin, frieze-rail and lock rail are all beaded and it has good modern furniture. Door is set within a pair of painted pilasters which support a painted timber entablature over which is a rectangular leaded transom with hoops, anthemion and Grecian-revival centre panel (symmetrical and scrolling with anthemion). Door surround is rendered, with a moulded render architrave and scrolled foliated brackets to cornice over.

All window openings to façade have rendered heads, stepped rendered jambs and granite cills; all windows throughout are without horns. To left and right bays on ground floor are single 6/6 sliding sash windows. To middle bay of basement (below front steps) is a broad sheeted t+g door (with latch) and broad cement rendered jambs rising from base course. To left and right bays, in line with ground floor windows, are single 6/3 sliding sashes with no horns. These windows have wire mesh grills over. To first floor are three 6/6 sliding sashes, in line with ground floor openings but diminished in height. Burglar alarm at top of ground floor left window.

Left gable is lined cement render and blank. Right gable forms party wall with adjacent building.

Basement to rear elevation is at ground level due to the sloping topography of site. Walls are lined cement render with raised eaves course and low chamfered render base course. To central bay of basement is a low modern t+g sheeted door. To left and right bays are single 6/3 sliding sash windows with metal security bars. There are three equally spaced 6/6 sliding sash windows to each upper floor; those to first floor slightly diminished in height. To extreme right, at half landing between ground and first floor, is a small 1/1 bucket-hinged window with narrow concrete cill.

Basement passage at front is paved and enclosed to garden side by lined render walls, all coped.

setting

Front garden is enclosed to front and left by a low rendered rubble stone wall. There are single granite gate piers to either side of path to front door, but no gates or railings. Garden contains small patches of lawn, mature shrubs and a modern sign-post advertising the occupant.

Rear yard is enclosed by rendered rubble walls to left and right and open to rear. Outhouses at rear are now gone.

Historical information

Designed by Thomas Duff and erected in early 1820s as part of Downshire Rd development. Shown on 1834 OS map and cited as Paternoster Row in 1838 valuation. Occupied at that date by John Ritchie. Duff himself lived in the adjoining house (no.47).

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.56
3. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI VAL 1D/3/8A.
4. Archaeological Survey Co Down, p.428 (entry 417.25).

Secondary Sources:
5. HMBB survey card dated 13 Nov 1969.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

V. Authorship
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Left one of a terrace of three two-storey/three-bay buildings. A well proportioned terrace by a well-known local architect, in virtually original condition and an early example of town planning.