Laurel Hill

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Three bay / two storey (+ basement) house with central fanlit door to ground floor. Contiguous with adjoining property to right, with which it shares façade and common roof.

Gabled natural slate roof with rendered chimney to north gable and another towards south end (on the gable before the property was extended – see below). Ornate cast iron cyma-recta gutter with fretted edge cresting at front. All walls are in render with stepped quoins.

The house is cut into an east-facing slope such that the basement is directly accessible at ground level from the rear and north gable. The walls are probably of granite rubble, but the reveals (on basement rear at least) are of brick.

Five granite steps with splayed parapet rendered wall lead to central ground floor entrance on main facade. This has projecting jambs and semi-elliptical arch, with simple glazed fanlight above spring line cornice (which has shell motifs). Door has four panels with raised fields, beaded muntin and traditional furniture. Cilled three-paned side lights.

All windows are sliding sash, without horns and with painted granite cills. At ground floor is a set of three part windows comprising large 1/1 sashes flanked with narrow 2/2 sashes to rooms on either side of door, both with projecting plaster moulded rendered architraves. At first floor at left and right, immediately below the eaves, are 6/3 sashes with 2/1 sashes to each side. Between them is a single 6/3 sash; although this window is the same height as those on either side, it is set lower in the wall. All first floor windows have stepped rendered architraves. The ground is excavated along the front and two windows light the basement. To left is a six-pane fixed light; to right is a two pane casement with central mullion

Left gable has two small derelict outhouses abutting at basement level, one containing entrance into house.

The right gable forms the party wall with the adjoining property.

The rear elevation has two fixed windows (one 6 paned, the other 10 paned) at basement level. Steps lead up to central door between basement and ground floor. Door has two lower fielded panels, margin paned glazed top panel and three pane fanlight. To its right is a three part window comprising 6/6 sliding sash with 2/2 sash sidelights. At half-landing level between ground floor and first floor is a 6/6 sliding sash with exposed boxes. On first floor, at right, is a canted oriel window with natural slate hip roof terminated with ball finial; 1/1 sashes to each bay. At left is a 2/2 sliding sash window just below eaves level.

Setting

Grounds to north and east , planted with trees, shrubs and lawn. Also a wooded serpentine walk along a stream with three small ornamental ponds (all now silted up).

Historical information

A house is shown here on the 1833 OS 6” map. It is described in the 1836 Valuation Book as measuring 41’6” x 33’6” x 21’ with a 7’ high cellar. These dimensions broadly correspond with the building shown on the 1:500 OS map of 1861; the first dimension also corresponds approximately with the present length of its façade, if one excludes the adjoining property. In this respect it is pertinent to note that the building under review is depicted as detached and with a central stepped entrance. These lines of evidence indicate that the adjoining property, known as Avoca House, is a later addition, even though both share the same façade detailing (in terms of render, window surrounds and gutters). The Valuation Revision book entry for 1885 notes two occupiers (with the same surname) at this location, and in all probability it was around then that this addition was made.

Sources:

1. PRONI - OS 6/2/26/1 (1833 map);
2. VAL 1B/246A, p.101;
3. OS 8/20/1/24 (1861 map);
4. VAL 12B/15/1E, p.342.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Three bay / two storey (+ basement) house with central fanlit door to ground floor. This building has a number of interesting features, notably the front windows at eaves level, margined glazing, entrance steps and fanlit doorway. It probably retains most of its internal configuration and fixtures. It is enhanced by its mature planted setting.