20 Downs Road,

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Large three storey sea front terrace house of c.1900, set on the E side of Downs Road.

The front façade is symmetrical to the centre on the ground floor is a large modern porch/conservatory- totally glazed. Beyond this is a glazed door screen. The porch roof is also a small first floor balcony, which has decorative cast iron balustrading.

The porch spans across part of three storey, hipped roof, canted outer bays. At each floor the bays have a window to each face with slightly splayed reveals, shallow segmental arch head, cill course and label moulding over. Between the bays at first floor level there is a slightly larger similar window, undoubtedly once a doorway. There is a similar smaller window between the bays at second floor level. All the windows have modern PVC frames (as do all those to the rear). The front façade is finished in lined render and painted. Yellow brick eaves course.

The rear is completely dominated by a large full height (but four level) gabled return. To the N face of this there is a ground floor window, two the first floor, two to the second and one to the third, all of slightly differing size. The S face has two windows to the first floor, two to the second and one to the third. The return gable is largely blank with only a single window at ground level with a small lean to section to its right with modern windows, velux window and a glazed door. The exposed sections of the main rear façade, at both extreme left and extreme right, each have a window to each floor. The rear is finished in plain render and unpainted.

The gabled roof is covered in natural slate with hounds tooth red clay ridge tiles. Two chimney stacks to main roof that to the N rendered (and built on top of the original stack of No.22), with that to the S yellow brick. Rendered stack to return gable.

Historical information

This house was built c.1900 by the father of a Mrs. Gunn, who herself lived in the property until the 1930s. During WWII it served as a mess for US army officers, but was sold afterwards to the Sawey family. In 1964 it became a guest house and has been in possession of the present owner since 1972.

References- Primary sources
1 UFTM W.A. Green Collection WAG 3A Photograph of Downs Road etc. c.1910-20.

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.77.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Large three storey terrace house of c.1900, with canted bays and small balcony with cast iron balustrade, but to which a large modern glazed entrance porch and PVC window frames have been added.