19 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 semicircular 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 flank door opening, with chamfered granite caps supporting decorative urns.

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 and gabled to right bay. Wall and gable detailing as right elevation. The right bay is abutted by a two-storey rectangular bay; it was originally a single storey, but was raised in 1970s. This addition is decorated with bands of yellow and black brick. Between ground and first floor windows at left are decorative terracotta panels. At ground floor left is pair of windows, above which his a large segmental-headed stained glass landing window. Right projecting bay has two windows to front, and a narrow sliding sash to each cheek. First floor of raised bay at right is windowless except for a modern louvered glass opening on left cheek.

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 has a circular window opening. Right cheek forms party wall with middle return. The smaller return has pitched natural slate roof and rendered walls. It has a large modern picture window to left cheek which wraps around to gable.

The right return has, on its right cheek, a continuation of string courses from main block; these step up at join. At ground floor of this cheek is a modern picture window with black brick soldier course and granite cill. To first floor is a single sliding sash with granite cill. Abutting 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 ground floor gable, and a 2/1 sash above. Its left cheek has a door and window.

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

Setting

Boundary wall to Windsor Hill is coursed granite rubble with rock faced coping. Square ashlar granite piers on chamfered base with oversailing pyramidal caps. Double modern wrought iron gates.

Front and side gardens have mature trees and bushes and an assortment of furniture including a cast iron tree bench and large stone urns with polished stone shafts. To rear is a tennis court and a post-war swimming pool.

Outhouse on rear boundary wall with Arthur Street has a pitched natural slate roof and random rubble walls with red brick dressings. It now contains a swimming pool with a box dormer to garden front.

Historical information

Erected at the same time as nos 17 and 21 Windsor Hill (HB16/26/076, /078) by Alexander Whelan, a well known Newry building contractor. First appears (as vacant) in 1895 Valuation Book, and occupied the following year. Cited as ‘Rockfort’ in 1902 OS map. Depicted in photo in Lawrence collection (8876).

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

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.