6 Lisburn Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A three-bay single-storey flat-roofed house in the International modern style; built c.1965 to designs by Philip Bell and located north of Lisburn Road east of Glenavy town centre. Rectangular on plan with projecting curved window bay to front.

Felted flat roof with rectangular rough-cast chimneystacks. Aluminum ogee rainwater goods on projecting eaves. Walling is painted roughcast render. Windows are replacement plastic frames with projecting masonry sills; corner window to southwest.

The principal elevation (entrance) faces west; triple window opening to left extending to south side of building; large window to left. Open entrance porch with replacement glazed timber door. Left side of building is enclosed by walled yard having modern timber gate.

The north elevation has a small window to right.

The east elevation comprises projecting curved window bay to left fully glazed over a plinth wall; to right are three rectangular-shaped windows.

The south elevation comprises two corner windows to left and right.

Setting:
The house has graveled entrance to west and mature garden to south and east. Enclosed by roughcast rendered wall with saddleback coping stones and gate piers; timber fence to west. The house is partially concealed from the main road to east by mature trees.

Roof: Felted flat roof
Walling: Roughcast
Windows: Plastic
RWG: Aluminum

Historical information

6 Lisburn Road does not appear on the Ordnance Survey maps (1832-1921) or in any of the Valuation books for the region. The first survey recorded that this building was constructed for a Mrs Rebecca McCullough of Glenavy to the international modern design of Philip Bell. Bell (1908 – 1982) was the first local architect in Ulster to possess a degree in Architecture and Planning which he gained in England. Up to date with current architectural trends he became known as a ‘pioneer of the modern movement in Ulster and was a founding member of the Historic Buildings Council, the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society and the Ancient Monuments Council’ (Dictionary of Irish Architects).

6 Lisburn Road was constructed around 1965 and was an example of the new modernist style advocated by architects such as Bell.

In 1991 during the first survey the recorders stated that the original window frames had been replaced with plastic frames which ‘did not conform to the original glazery pattern.’ The building was listed category B1 in November 1992 (NIEA File). At the time of writing (2010) the house appears to be undergoing interior restoration work.

References:

1. PRONI VAL/1/A/1/59 – Field Map c.1830
2. PRONI VAL/1/B/171 – Townland Valuation
3. PRONI OS/6/1/59/1 – First Edition OS Map 1832-33
4. PRONI OS/6/1/59/2 – Second Edition OS Map 1858
5. PRONI OS/6/1/59/3 – Third Edition OS Map 1901-1902
6. PRONI OS/6/1/59/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1920-1921
7. PRONI VAL/2/B/1/58 – Griffith’s Valuation 1859
8. PRONI VAL/12/B/8/4 A – Annual Revisions 1869-1881
9. PRONI VAL/12/B/8/4 B – Annual Revisions 1881-1894
10. PRONI VAL/12/B/8/4 C – Annual Revisions 1894-1911
11. PRONI VAL/12/B/8/4 D – Annual Revisions 1912-1929

Online Resources

1. Glenavy History: http://www.glenavyhistory.com/ (Genealogy website).
2. Dictionary of Irish Architects: http://www.dia.ie/

NIEA File – HB19/01/062.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

V. Authorship
W. Northern Ireland/International Interest
Z. Rarity
R. Age
S. Authenticity
T. Historic Importance

Evaluation

A three-bay single-storey flat-roofed house in the International modern style located east of Glenavy town centre; built c.1965 to designs by the renowned local architect Philip Bell . Despite the loss of the original windows this is a rare example of a building type designed by one of Northern Ireland's most important arctitectswhich retains its essential character typified by the flat roof, semi-circular projection and corner windows.

General comments

Listing Criteria R - Age; S - Authenticity and T - Historic Importance also apply.