Northern Bank

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Symmetrical end of terrace two-storey rendered late eighteenth-century former house. Rectangular on plan facing south on the north side of Ballynahinch street with pair of later returns, formerly part of a single house together with Nos.16 (HB19/05/045A) and 18 (HB19/05/045B). Now in use as a bank.

Pitched natural slate roof with black clay ridge tiles and two rendered chimneystacks. Concrete coping to east gable end with sandstone eaves cornice having shaped iron brackets supporting cast-iron guttering and downpipe. Ruled and lined lime rendered walling with painted masonry rusticated quoins and smooth render plinth course. Square-headed window openings with architrave surrounds (to front elevation only), original timber sash windows and painted masonry sills.

Front elevation is five windows wide with a central stucco doorcase and front railed area. Original timber sash windows, 6/3 to first floor, 6/6 to ground floor (that to top right is blind). Square-headed door opening with replacement timber door having four raised and fielded panels and rectangular overlight. Door flanked by pair of engaged Ionic piers (with entasis) supportting plain architrave and entablature covered in lead. Door opens onto stone threshold and gentle concrete ramp, enclosed to either side by decorative cast-iron railing on low painted stone plinth wall enclosing tiled area to either side with a decorative iron lamp standard to the west section where the railing has been broken to provide ATM.

West side elevation abutted by adjoining house No.18 (HB19/05/045B).

Rear elevation is abutted by two two-storey returns, that to the east having a pitched slate roof, that to the west having a flat roof. Generally 6/6 timber sash windows with a tripartite timber sash window to the exposed rear elevation.

Gabled east side elevation has a pair of 6/3 timber sash windows to the first floor and 6/6 to the ground floor. The lower east return runs flush with the east gable abutted by a tall round pier and having pebbledash rendered walling with a single timber casement window. Tall lime rendered screen wall abuts the east end of the front elevation with painted masonry coping and a large round-headed arch.

Setting:
Forming part of aterrace of three similar houses that once formed a single dwelling lining the north side of Ballynahinch Street. Small rear paved yard enclosed by tall rubblestone wall with lean-to redbrick shed having steel windows. Arched screen wall gives access to a number of dwellings to the rear.

Roof Natural slate
RWG Cast-iron
Walling Ruled and lined lime render
Windows Timber sash

Historical information

No. 20 Ballynahinch Street first appears on an early map of Hillsborough (c.1800) where it is depicted as a large oblong building (a single building at that time with No. 18 Ballynahinch Street (HB19/05/045B). The 1833 Ordnance Survey map of Hillsborough shows that Nos. 18 – 20 possessed a large L-shaped rear return and a number of out offices. The contemporary Townland Valuation recorded that a Mr. William Edmond Reilly occupied the house in the 1830s when it was valued at £34. William Edmond Reilly was the last MP to sit for the Hillsborough Constituency in the Irish Parliament until was dissolved in 1801 under the Act of Union. In 1843 the Ulster Towns Directory indicates that he occupied the post of Deputy-Lieutenant for Co. Down and also served as a Justice of the Peace in Hillsborough (Ulster Towns Directory – 1843); his gravestone describes him as the ‘confidential friend and agent to the third Marquis of Downshire for the long period of 41 years during which time he gained the real esteem and respect of all by his kindness, urbanity and unflinching integrity’ (Gravestone Inscriptions, p. 88).

In 1861 Nos. 18 - 20 Ballynahinch Street was still recorded as one dwelling valued at £54. and at that time was occupied by a Mr. Fitzherbet Filgate, also a Justice of the Peace for Hillsborough and a Trustee for the North East Agricultural Association of Ireland (Ulster Towns Directory – 1880). Griffith’s Valuation records that Nos. 18 – 20 measured 25 yds by 5 yds and possessed a large number of out offices which were situated in the courtyard to the rear. The second edition of the Ordnance Survey (1858) shows little change to the layout of the building; it was not until 1871 that the house was split into two separate dwellings under a new occupant, Major Henry Stanley McClintock (1812-1898). Major McClintock served with the Royal Horse Artillery and Antrim Artillery (a militia unit) and later became a Justice of the Peace for Co. Down (The peerage.com). In 1871 the house was split, No. 18 being used as premises for the Hillsborough Woollen Co. whilst No. 20 was converted into a branch of the Northern Bank Co. The Northern Bank was revalued at £23. The Annual Revisions map c. 1865 depicts the Northern Bank as a square building with a small rear return.

Barry states that Nos. 18 – 20 Ballynahinch Street was built around c. 1780 as a home for the Marquis of Downshire’s agent who lived there until 1870 when the official residence of the Agent was moved to Kilwarlin House on Lisburn Street. Walker asserts that the Marquis of Downshire considered demolishing Blessington House and No. 20 Ballynahinch Street in order to alter the course of the street (Barry, pp 39-40; Walker). Brett suggests that Nos. 18 and 20 were always intended as separate dwellings (although they were valued as one residence until 1871), Blessington house being used by the Agent and the other by his sub-agent (Brett, p. 22).

Until the 1970s the Bank Manager's residence was in Blessington House. In 1976 the bank and former house was listed; since that time a section of the original railings have been removed to allow access to an ATM machine which was installed in 1990. In 2004 the windows of the house were restored and at the time of writing (2010) additional restoration work to the building has been completed; very few original features remain on the lower floor but a staircase and some other fittings, some original cornice and doors have survived on the second floor (NIEA File).

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI D671/M/8/25 – Hillsborough Map c.1800
2. PRONI D671/M/8/57/1 – Hillsborough Illustrated Map 1803
3. PRONI VAL/1/B/344 A-B – Townland Valuations 1834
4. PRONI VAL/1/D/3/5 – Town Plan 1834
5. PRONI OS/6/3/14/1 – First Edition OS Map 1834
6. PRONI OS/6/3/14/2 – Second Edition OS Map 1858
7. PRONI OS/6/3/14/3 – Third Edition OS Map 1902-1903
8. PRONI OS/6/3/14/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1919-1920
9. PRONI VAL/2/B/3/45A-C – Griffith’s Valuation 1861
10. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/14A – Annual Revisions 1864-1879
11. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/14B – Annual Revisions 1880-1889
12. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/14C – Annual Revisions 1890-1908
13. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/14D – Annual Revisions 1909-1928
14. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/14E – Annual Revisions 1928-1930
15. Ulster Towns Directory (1843; 1910)

Secondary Sources

1. Barry, J., ‘Hillsborough: A parish in the Ulster plantation’ (3rd ed.), Belfast, Universities Press., 1982.
2. Brett, C. E. B., ‘Historic buildings, groups of buildings, areas of architectural importance in the towns and villages of Mid Down: Hillsborough, Dromore, Dromara, Ballynahinch, the Spa, Drumaness and Saintfield’ Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1974.
3. Walker, S., ‘Hillsborough: An illustrated history and companion’ Belfast: Cottage Publications, 1994).
4. NIEA File – HB19/05/045C.

Online Resources

1. http://thepeerage.com

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
S. Authenticity
V. Authorship
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Symmetrical end of terrace two-storey rendered late eighteenth-century former house, in use as a bank since the late 19th century. Rectangular on plan facing south on the north side of Ballynahinch street, the former house retains its facade composition and its first floor interior. Its elegant doorcase, railings and intact enclosed rear yard form an important historic element on the street. Formerly part of a single large house with Nos. 16A/16B (HB19/05/045A) and 18 (HB19/05/045B) Ballynahinch Street, it was originally built as a residence for the Marquis of Downshire’s agent. With its historical connections to the Downshire Estate it contributes to the architectural and historic heritage of the Hillsborough area.

General comments

Please note this record has been renumbered it was previously recorded as HB19/05/045
Listing Criteria R & S also apply.