17 Windsor Hill

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A two-storey/ three-bay house set in mature grounds on east side of Windsor Hill.

Pitched natural slate roof with scalloped terracotta ridges, hip knobs and overhanging eaves. Three return roofs tie into rear pitch (those to left and right are pitched and that to centre is hipped). A stepped red brick chimney with yellow brick band rises from roof ridge between left and centre bays. At front left on façade is the hipped roof of a two-storey canted bay; this has similar slates, ridges and terracotta hip knob. Rainwater goods are cast-iron and ogee in profile.

Wall to façade is red brick with a chamfered base course and single course of black bricks across at head level of ground floor windows. There is a moulded brick string course between ground and first floor, and a second projecting course at first floor window cill level. Also a course of black and yellow bricks at head level of first floor windows.

Main entrance is in a gabled brick porch to central bay. Roof of porch is pitched ashlar granite rising from moulded granite kneestones. Its walls are of red brick with base course as façade. Walls splay out towards ground on either side of door opening. A single granite step rises to a pair of multi-panelled timber doors (top two panels glazed), with plain semicircular fanlight over, all set within a semi-elliptical headed chamfered opening over which is a course of purple brick. Above this course is a projecting moulded string course. In the gable apex is an inset foliated terracotta diamond panel. Projecting stepped brick plinths with chamfered granite caps flank door opening.

All windows are 1/1 sashes with segmental heads, swept stooled ends and granite cills. Those to ground floor façade have decorative terracotta lintels with embossed rosettes, raised keystone and roll-mould chamfering. First floor windows have chamfered brick reveals and heads.

Over porch is a pair of windows with common cill broken by ridge of porch roof. At left is a canted bay window with single 1/1 sliding sashes to each cheek of both floors. There is a pair of windows to ground floor right bay, and a single window centred above.

Right elevation is two bays wide and gabled to left bay. Wall details are as façade. Gable is decorated with three different bands of red, black and yellow bricks. At ground floor left is a single-storey rectangular bay with a pair of windows to front. At right is a single-storey canted bay window with a single window to each cheek. Both projecting bays are capped by a granite blocking course (at cill level of first floor). To first floor are two pairs of windows, each in line with those on ground floor.

Left elevation is two bays wide; the right bay forms a projecting two-storey gable. Wall and gable detailing as right elevation. At ground floor left is pair of windows, above which is a large segmental headed stained glass landing window (with yellow/ black brick panels below cill). Right gable has a 1/1 sash to each floor.

Rear elevation is abutted by three returns. Those to left and right (as viewed from rear) are gabled natural slate and each has a stepped red brick chimney with yellow banding to ends. Left cheek of left return forms a continuation of right elevation of main block; right cheek of right return forms a continuation of left elevation of main block.

The left return has a blank left wall. Its end gable is abutted by a single storey return. The exposed section of gable above is blank. Right cheek forms party wall with middle return. The smaller return has pitched natural slate roof and rendered gable.

The right return has, on its right cheek, a continuation of string courses from main block. Each floor of this cheek has a 1/1 sash. Abutting its gable is a one and half storey return; wall above is blank. Left cheek projects forward from middle return and has a single 1/1 sash to each floor. The smaller return has pitched natural slate roof. On its right cheek is a sliding sash to ground floor. It also has a 1/1 sash to each floor on gable. Its left cheek has a central door and 1/1 sash to its right.

Linking the two returns is a central return with natural slate hipped roof. At ground floor it has a modern top-hung timber window to right and two 1/1 sliding sashes to left. At first floor are two 1/1 sliding sashes.

Setting

Boundary to Windsor Hill is in coursed granite rubble with rock faced coping. Square ashlar gate piers on chamfered base with oversailing pyramidal tops. Wrought iron pedestrian gate.

Front and side gardens are lawned with some planting and shade trees. A wall between left and right returns forms rear yard which contains a manually operated cast iron water pump.

Outhouse on rear boundary wall with Arthur Street has a pitched natural slate roof, random rubble walls (with red brick dressings) and openings to all sides.

Historical information

Deeds state that land was leased from Downshire Estate to Mr Samuel Duncan in 1893. Sold the following year to Alexander Whelan, a well known Newry building contractor. He erected this house and also nos 19 and 21 Windsor Hill (HB16/26/076, /077). First appears (as vacant) in 1895 Valuation Book, and occupied the following year. Mr Whelan died in 1902 and title passed to his daughter Florence Booth Whelan. Present owners purchased house after second world war. Two watercolours of house (pre WW2) show that gardens were laid out in elaborate flowerbeds with hedge arches and mature shrubs and trees. Cited as ‘Braeside’ on 1902 OS map.

Primary Sources:

1. 3. OS 6" map, 3rd edition (1902) Co Down sheet 46 (PRONI OS 6/3/46/3)
2. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI VAL 12B/22/14J, p.153;
3. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI VAL 12E/125/1/8

Secondary Sources:

4. Occupant (1998).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A two-storey/ three-bay house set in mature grounds. A substantial late Victorian suburban residence, with good brick and terracotta detailing and largely original interior. It is of a relatively late date and not of special architectural or historic interest.