172 Huntly Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Small, 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.72 lies in the middle of the terrace and is one of the two smaller properties [no.74 being the other].

The symmetrical single-storey front elevation faces roughly N. Unlike its neighbours, this house does not have an entrance to the front, merely a window. This window has a six over six hornless timber sash frame, with broad sash box.

To the ground floor of the (two-storey) the S elevation there is a doorway to left, with a recent looking flat panel door. To right of this doorway there is a window, as front. To the first floor there is a smller window (three panes over six).

The gabled roof is slated and has clay ridge tiles. There is a brick chimneystack to the E end of the ridge (shared with no.70) 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 undoubtedly built by the Smyth family 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.172 Huntly Road) was occupied by a William Fry in 1861. Fry (or, more likely, a son / relation of the same name) is recorded as still living there up until 1909, when he was succeeded by a Henry Wilson (1909-27), with a Mary Wilson following and remaining there until at least 1935. The Wilsons also held the neighbouring property (no.74) during this period also.

The property appears to have been vacated c.1990.

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
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

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.