170 Huntly Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Unusual split-level ‘two-storey’ house of c.1840-50, built as part of a short terrace of three similar but non-identical dwellings, for employees of the (now demolished) near by mill. The terrace is built into sloping ground to the west side of Huntly Road, set back from the line of a longer terrace to the east. To the immediate W there is a now derelict former schoolhouse, which was latterly used as a hall. All of the houses in the terrace are vacant and in a state of disrepair.

The terrace is brick-built, but much of the façade is now covered in plant growth or obscured by bushes. No.70 lies to the E end of the terrace and is larger than the other two properties which make up the grouping.

The symmetrical single-storey front elevation is single-storey and faces roughly N. To the centre of this elevation is the main entrance which consists of a doorway with panelled timber door. To the left of entrance is a window with a six over six hornless timber sash frame, with broad sash box. To the right of the doorway is an identical window.

The E-facing gable is two-storey. To the ground floor of the gable there is a gabled single-storey projection, with a brick façade and a corrugated–asbestos covered roof. To the S face of this projection there is a relatively small window to left with a recent timber frame. To right of this there is a doorway with a timber-sheeted door with small glazed panel. A timber lean-to ‘conservatory’ was added to this façade at some stage, however this has now largely collapsed. To the E gable of the projection there is a small window to left with two over two timber sash frame. [This window could only be seen from the inside of the property, as the gable itself is obscured by bushes etc.] The first floor level of the main E gable is finished in unpainted cement render and is devoid of openings.

To the ground floor of the (two-storey) rear level there is a doorway, with panelled timber door, to right. To left of this doorway there is an enlarged window with recent timber frame; to right again there is a window as the front elevation. To the first floor there are three identical windows, each with sash frames similar to front but with three panes over six. Most of the windows to this elevation have broken panes and are partly covered by creeping plant growth.

The gabled roof is slated, with clay ridge tiles and a [?]stone parapet to the gable. There are two brick (ridge) chimneystacks. The rainwater goods are a mixture of original cast-iron and recent replacement PVC-u.

Historical information

A block matching the present terrace is first shown on the OS map of 1858-60, which, the contiuity of valuation returns indicate, is the same block we see today. This short terrace was built by the Smyth family, undoubtedly for employees of their near by bleach and corn mills (‘Milltown’). The overall plainness of the terrace makes it difficult to date exactly, however it was not considered ‘new’ by the valuers in 1861, so it could conceivably date from as early as c.1840.

This particular house (present no.170 Huntly Road) was occupied by a John Nelson n 1861, followed by a Isaac Jackson in c.1864. Isaac Jackson (or a son / relation of the same name) is recorded as still living there up until 1901-2, when he was succeeded by a Thomas Wright. The next occupant was a James Kane (1921-24), an then a Johnstone McIlroy (1924-29). The house appears to have been vacated in the early 1990s.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI OS/6/3/27/1 OS map, Co Down sheet 27 (1833-34)
2 PRONI OS/6/3/27/2 OS map, Co Down sheet 27 (1858-60)
3 PRONI VAL/2A/3/27A Valuation map, Co Down sheet 27, Tullylish parish etc. (1858-c.61)
4 PRONI VAL/2B/3/48D Second valuation, Tullylish parish (1861)
5 PRONI VAL/12B/16/25A Annual valuation revision book, Tullylish ED (1864-78)
6 PRONI VAL/12B/16/25B Annual valuation revision book, Tullylish ED (1879-87)
7 PRONI VAL/12B/16/25C Annual valuation revision book, Tullylish ED (1879-87)
8 PRONI VAL/12B/16/25D Annual valuation revision book, Tullylish ED (1887-89)
9 PRONI VAL/12B/16/25E Annual valuation revision book, Tullylish ED (1887-99)
10 PRONI VAL/12B/16/25F Annual valuation revision book, Tullylish ED (1900-08)
11 PRONI VAL/12E/87/1 Valuation plan of Milltown (1907 [-35])
12 PRONI VAL/12B/16/25G Annual valuation revision book, Tullylish ED (1909-21)
13 PRONI VAL/12B/16/25H Annual valuation revision book, Tullylish ED (1921-29)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Split-level ‘two-storey’ house of c.1840-50, built as part of a short terrace of three similar but non-identical dwellings for employees of the (now demolished) near by mill. A relatively early surving example of mill-workers’ housing this building has an unusual layout and is still largely original.