2-12 Belfast Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Plain, two storey mixed terrace of c.1880-1900 comprising of six properties, all with rendered facades and segmental arched openings. Nos.2-6 were probably built as a terrace, with No.12, a slightly grander double fronted house, possibly built as a detached property. Nos.8-10 are two small single fronted dwellings, similar in style to Nos.2-6, but perhaps built slightly later. The terrace is set on the W side of the Belfast Road, to the N of Ballynahinch town centre.

The front façade of the terrace faces E. No.2 comprises of two properties [?2 and 2a], a house and a shop. The house is entered via a modern glazed door set in a deep recess to the S gable. To the left of the door are two modern-looking windows. To the E façade is the shop front which has a central recessed glazed door with tall shop windows either side. To the left of the shop front is a segmental headed window opening with sash frame with vertical glazing bars (2 panes over 2). To first floor are three similar evenly spaced windows. To the rear of the building there is a large modern two storey extension the upper portion of which mainly taken up with a large conservatory. The front façade is largely finished in lined render with in / out quoins to SE corner. String course between ground and first floor to front. The gabled roof is slated and to the rear there is a long modern flat roofed dormer. Two concrete brick chimney stacks (one shared with No.4).

No.4 is slightly smaller than No.2 and has an asymmetrical front façade. To the left is a panelled door with segmental headed fanlight. To the right of this are two windows, as No.2 but with modern frames. There are three similar windows to the first floor. The rear is dominated by a large, two storey gabled return. The front façade is rendered as No.2 but with quoins to N edge and simulated ‘voussoirs’ over the openings. The gabled roof is slated and has a Velux window to the rear. Rendered brick chimney stack.

The front facade of No.6 is as No.4 but without string course, ‘voussoirs’ and quoins and with different modern window frames. To the rear there is a large modern flat roofed extension. The gabled roof appears to be covered in artificial slate. Concrete brick chimney stack.

Nos.8 and 10 are much smaller than Nos.2-6, but are broadly similar in style. No.8 has a door to the left on ground floor, window to right and two more windows to the first floor. These openings all have segmental heads with sash frames to windows as No.2. The door is a modern glazed model. Simple surround to doorway. Lined render to front. To the rear a large return is currently being constructed. The gabled roof is currently being slated. Concrete brick chimney stack.

No.10 is as No.8 only handed and with a modernised two storey gabled return to rear. The front doorway does not have a surround. The roof appears to be covered in artificial ‘slate’.

As stated above, No.10 is much grander than its neighbours. Its front façade is largely symmetrical with an almost central front door with four-panelled door and segmental arch headed plain fanlight. The door opening is framed with a typically late Victorian Mannerist surround with decorative pilasters each with frieze and cornice which support a segmental arched pediment. To the left is a segmental arch headed window opening with a modern two pane PVC window. To the right is a similar window and to the first floor are three equally spaced windows as before. Between the ground and first floors is a projecting string course. Below the course the render finish is rusticated while above is finished in lined render, The corners have chamfered and decorative quoins.
The N façade is blank.

The rear elevation has a central two storey gabled return which has two windows to the ground floor. To either side of the return there are two windows, one to ground floor and one to first floor, all modern 2/2 and in PVC. The N face of the return has a modern window to the first floor. The S face has two modern windows to first floor.

A small garden (now concreted over) to the front is enclosed with a fine set of decorative cast iron railings with a small gate.

Historical information

This terrace appears to have been built in stages between c.1880 and c.1900. No.12, the much grander house to the north end of the block, may be the oldest of the grouping. It was built by a local businessman named McCauley. In 1932-33 the McCauley’s allowed the house to used as accommodation for the Missionary Sisters of the Assumption, who had established a convent school in the town (now Assumption Grammar). The property was later given to the local RC parish and is now a rectory house.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI OS/6/3/22/3 OS map, Down sh 22, c.1901

Secondary sources
1 ‘A history of the Parish of Magheradroll’ (Ballynahinch 2000), pp.37-39

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Plain, two storey mixed terrace of c.1880-c.1900 comprising of six properties, all with rendered facades and segmental arched openings. Nos.2-6 were probably built as a terrace, with No.12, a slightly grander double fronted house, possibly built as a detached property. Nos.8-10 are two small single fronted dwellings, similar in style to Nos.2-6, but perhaps built slightly later.