Former Coastguard Station

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Large two storey gabled former coastguard station of c.1880s-90s containing six dwellings. Built of granite with gabled bays to N. This building was extensively renovated in recent years when many of the window openings were enlarged. The building is set on a rise to the W of South Promenade, overlooking the sea.

The entrances to the cottages are set on the W façade facing into the hill. Nos. 2-6 have had modern rendered lean-to bathroom/porch extensions added. The entrance to no.6 is to the N side of the extension. The W face of the extension has a modern three pane window. The S face is blank. To the left of the extension is a sash window opening with in/out brick dressings and a flat brick arch. Directly above is a similar sash window. To the right of this is a narrow three pane window with a high cill.

The rear of no.5 is as per no.6 but handed. The ground floor original window has been replaced with a casement window. The extension to no.5 merges with that to no 4.

No 4 is as per no.6. No. 3 is as per no.6 but handed. Its extension merges with that to no.2. No.2 is as per no.6 The rear façade of no.1 projects back slightly. To the right is a door opening with brick dressings and a plain fanlight. To the left is a large stone built lean-to extension to the left of which is a large window opening with a multi-pane window and to the right is a narrow window with a raised cill, as before.

The S gable has a small modern single storey flat roofed garage to the left side. The main S façade is blank but for one first floor sash window with segmental arched head and in/out brick dressings.

The rear E façade faces out to sea. It is constructed on a battered base. To the ground and first floor are five large, segmental arch headed windows, one to each of nos. 2-6. These were enlarged during the recent renovation. The original brick dressings and the granite cills were removed and a steel segmental arched lintel was inserted along with a narrow concrete cill. The timber four pane windows are modern.

No.1 projects forward slightly and has two paired windows, as before, to ground and first floors. To the right of the projecting bay is a two storey flat roofed section, the ground floor of which forms an open porch, possibly a former look out post, with a large semicircular arch opening supported on projecting granite corbels. To first floor is a segmental arch headed window opening with a modern timber window. The N face of the flat roofed section has a similar semicircular arched opening. The stone balustrade is broken to allow a stair opening which gives access to the front door. Within the porch are two chamfered and painted stones. Each has a small round hole positioned at the top of the chamfer. The purpose of the stones is not known, however similar stones were observed in the coastguard houses at Millisle (HB 24/05/012). To the right of the flat roofed section is the main gable. To the ground floor is a window with brick dressings , with a similar window directly above. To the ground floor right is a small window with brick dressings, as before. To the far right is the S face of the rear lean-to return which has a wide modern window with brick dressings.

The main block is constructed in squared granite blocks while the recent extensions are rendered. The main roof is finished with Bangor Blue slate and has overhanging eaves. The roofs of some of the lean-tos have artificial slate. Nos. 2-6 have shared chimney brick stacks built on the ridge line with corbelled detailing. No. 6 has two chimney stacks; that to the main roof is set back from the ridge line and is as before.. The second is located at the junction of the flat roof and the pitched roof. Its base is granite while the upper portion is brick and is as before. Cast iron and PVC rw goods.

To the back of the rear gardens is a line of garden sheds, originally the outside WC’s.

Historical information

This coastguard station, which originally had accommodation for 6 officers, was built c.1880s-90s and replaced the small coastguard house of c.1830, which still stands at the rear wall of the harbour. The station appears to have remained in use until the mid to later 20th century [?c.1970s]. The dwellings are privately owned and recent renovations have included the enlarging of most of the windows to the east façade.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI VAL/12E/111/1 Valuation town plan of Newcastle, 1864-1906.
2 PRONI and Linen Hall Library ‘Belfast and Province of Ulster Directory’ Vols.1-21, 1852-1900, (Belfast, Henderson [1852-65], Belfast News-Letter [1865- ]).
3 George Henry Bassett ‘County Down Guide and Directory’ (Dublin 1886), pp.161-165. [This directory appears to suggest that the coastguard station was not standing in c.1885.]
4 PRONI OS/8/136/1-4 OS plans of Newcastle, 1901.

Secondary sources
1 P.J. Rankin, 'Historic Buildings, Groups of Buildings, Areas of Architectural Importance in the Mourne Area of South Down', (Belfast UAHS 1975), p.72.
2 Grenfell Morton ‘Victorian and Edwardian Newcastle’ (Belfast 1988). [This book includes late 19th and early 20th century photographs of Newcastle, mainly from the Laurence Collection held at PRONI.]

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Large, two storey, gabled former coastguard station of c.1880s-90s containing six dwellings. Granite-built with gabled bays to N, this building was extensively renovated in recent years and many of the window openings were enlarged.