Laurel Lodge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two storey/ three bay symmetrical house with two storey rear return set in mature grounds on east side of Downshire Road.

Pitched natural slate roof with rendered chimney to each gable of main block. Half round metal rainwater goods. All walls are lined render. Unless otherwise stated, all windows have horns and granite cills.

The main façade, which faces west, has stepped stucco quoins and slightly raised stepped stucco jambs to all openings. Three granite steps rise to main entrance in central bay. Door is painted timber with six raised bolection-moulded panels, beaded muntin and brass furniture. Flanked by a pair of three-quarter attached granite Tuscan columns with moulded granite entablature, over which is a semi-elliptical timber cobweb fanlight. Left and right bays have single 1/1 sliding sash windows. At first floor are three 1/1 sashes, in line with openings below but diminished in height; their top sashes are double the size of the bottom frames (probably 6/3 originally). Wall continues left of façade to form boundary to yard which is accessed by a painted t+g door.

Left gable has, at ground floor left, a small single-pane window with shallow swept render hood and concrete cill. Abutting at right, in corner of yard, is a small one-storey shed of corrugated asbestos throughout. At first floor, on extreme left, is a small 1/1 aluminium sash window within an older opening. In gable apex at attic level is a small two-pane casement window with concrete cill.

Right gable is blank except for a single 1/1 top-hung window at attic level.

A two storey return abuts the middle and right bays of the rear elevation. Remainder of rear elevation (ie. left bay) has a single 6/6 sliding sash window to ground floor and similar to first; the ground floor window has a small casement inserted into the top centre pane of its bottom sash.

Return has pitched natural slate roof (ridge level in line with eaves of main block). A single rendered chimney rises from centre of ridge. The latter is aligned with middle of main block making its pitches uneven in width and gradient. It would seem that the return was originally only to centre of rear elevation but was subsequently extended to right (as viewed from rear). On gable of return, at ground floor left, is an 8/8 sliding sash window (one pane with a bull’s-eye). To its right is a small modern 1/1 top-hung window. At first floor middle is a small 1/1 sliding sash window. At extreme right is a small two paned casement set within a sash frame.

Right cheek of return is flush with left gable of house. At ground floor left is a 6/6 sliding sash (no horns); stumps of metal security bars. At right is a modern 6/6 top-hung window. Between these two windows is a 12/12 horizontal sliding sash window (each sash is the size of a typical 6/6). Above this middle window, at first floor, is an 8/8 sliding sash (no horns). At extreme right, over ground floor right window, is a canted oriel resting on two iron brackets. It has a canted, hipped roof (ties into return roof) and plastic rainwater goods. Each face has a tall casement with coloured glass transom (turn of the century date). Owner states that once lead to a balcony with steps down to garden.

On left cheek of return is a recessed t+g door at right. At left, in corner with main block, is a small lean-to shed (slate roof, render walls and similar door). To its immediate right is a small 2/4 top-hung metal window with concrete cill. Centred between this window and door at right is a 3/6 modern top-hung window (no cill). Between ground and first floors at left, is a tall landing light with leaded stained glass; metal security bars over, but no cill. To its right, at first floor, is a 6/6 sliding sash window (security bars over top sash). Satellite dish affixed to wall at right.

Setting

Mature garden to front with oval drive leading from gate at left end of Downshire Road boundary wall. This wall is wet dashed. Gates are wrought iron (post-WW2 in design) with finely dressed one-piece granite posts (with moulded caps). At front right corner of garden is a small relatively recent garage. A modern bungalow has been constructed in garden at left of house. There is another post-WW2 house in the former orchard behind the house. Two storey random rubble outhouse fronting Windsor Avenue also belongs to this property.

Historical information

Building shown on 1834 OS map. Occupied by George Godfrey in 1838. Cited as Laurel Lodge on 1858 OS map. According to the Owner, erected by James Greer. The Owner's wife states that the roof space was converted to an attic about 50 years ago.

Primary Sources:

1. OS 6" map, 1st edition (1834) Co Down sheet 46 (PRONI OS 6/3/46/1)
2. OS 6" map, 2nd edition (1858) Co Down sheet 46 (PRONI OS 6/3/46/2)
3. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI VAL 1B/ 389, p.56.

Secondary Sources:

4. Owner (1998)

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

Two storey/ three bay symmetrical house. Simple but elegant early villa retaining most original features including a rare horizontal sliding sash window.