The Old Manse, 2 Lisburn Road, Hillsborough, Co Down, BT26 6AA

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached two-storey three-bay Edwardian house with attic, built c.1905 as one of a pair of identical villas, located in private grounds on the east side of Lisburn Road a short distance north of Hillsborough village centre. Irregular plan having T-plan ridge with full-height canted bays to principal west elevation, north and south, and a lean-to verandah to west; small single-storey kitchen extension to south-east. There is a single-storey link block to north-east, linking to a two-storey stable building at east, converted to a granny-flat c.2016.

Pitched and hipped natural slate roofs with stepped and pierced terracotta ridge crestings and finials over canted bays; leaded valleys and rendered chimneystacks with corniced caps and stop-end chamfered arrises over party walls between bays to west and south pitches, and over north pitch; fishscale banding to verandah roof. Original profile ogee gutters over modillioned eaves to main block and verandah; simple corniced eaves to link block and cast-iron downpipes. Ruled-and-lined painted rendered walling over a chamfered plinth having string courses at ground floor ceiling level and first floor sill level, framing decorative floriate apron panels beneath first floor canted bay windows; simple string courses also forming a plain frieze between first floor windows and cornice. Generally original plain timber sash windows with horns, some having original glazing; some replacement double-glazed timber sashes; principal elevations have stop-end chamfered reveals, plain reveals to rear elevation and link block; painted stone sills throughout.

Front (west) elevation has a projecting canted bay to right with two openings to its left; those to ground floor, including central principal entrance, are spanned by the verandah which has an open three-bay framework of timber posts having panelled spandrel brackets on decorative corbels, bedded on cast-iron plinths; red quarry-tiled platform accessed by three full-width granite steps and having timber boarded soffit over exposed rafters. Original entrance door with segmental-headed transom light over set into moulded reveal, comprising six bolection-moulded panels, beaded muntin and over-painted original brass knob and knocker; granite threshold.

North elevation has canted bay to right, large semi-circular arched timber-framed stairwell window to centre having original leaded and stained glass over ground floor window. Left bay is lower and has two windows to ground floor and one to half-landing level, all diminished in size. The link block projects to left (see below).

Rear elevation is abutted to ground floor right by the link block; it has two windows to ground floor, one set to right at first floor, and a pair of closely-spaced windows to attic level. The link block has four windows to north elevation; its south elevation has been infilled to include the re-positioned original rear door at left (formerly located in the portion of the south wall which was removed for the kitchen extension), having four etched glass top panels and two recessed lower panels, and a replacement window to right. It is abutted at east by the former stable building.

South elevation has a central projecting canted bay; to its right are two windows to first floor over the flat-roofed single-storey extension which occupies the re-entrant angle, detailed with plain frieze, cornice and having five windows. The left bay has a window to each floor.

The house occupies an elevated site in large grounds with mature trees, without boundaries with the adjoining property (HB19/05/158); terraced lawns to front having two flights of granite steps to the main entrance; tarmac perimeter and rear gardens having hedge boundary. Two-storey stable building to rear having central gablet over former loading door; pitched slate roof with terracotta ridges and finials, simple projecting eaves, ruled-and-lined rendered walling and generally with replacement double-glazed timber sash windows; some plain glazed pivot windows to loft. Tree-lined roadside boundary with alcoved entrance having quadrant ruled-and-lined rendered walling with moulded coping terminated by piers at either end; central gate piers are taller, having stop-end pole-moulded arrises, cross-ridged caps and pair of original wrought-iron gates. Neighbouring building is similarly configured, located immediately to north.

Roof: Slate
Walling: Render
Windows: Timber sash
RWG: Cast iron

Historical information

The first (1835) and second (1862) editions of the OS map show that the existing pair of dwellings was constructed on a previously undeveloped site. No.2, originally named ‘The Lawn’, is now named ‘The Manse’, although it no longer serves this purpose, and the first edition map shows the Presbyterian Church located on its current site a short distance to south. The third edition revision of c.1904 does not show the houses and they first appear in the valuation records in 1905. However, the Dictionary of Irish Architects indicates that the houses were designed and then published by architect Henry Hobart in the Irish Builder in 1903. Nos. 2 & 4 Lisburn Street were built for George and Henry Bell, brothers who were grocers, meat curers and general merchants operating from premises elsewhere on Lisburn Street. The firm G & H Bell is listed in the provincial directory from 1890 and a George Bell is listed as a grocer in Lisburn Street as early as 1861. Both properties comprised house, office and associated land, built in 1905 to designs by the Dromore architect Henry William Hobart on land leased from the Marquis of Downshire. Hobart had an extensive practice in the first decade of the twentieth century in partnership with Samuel Heron with offices based in the Scottish Provident Buildings, Belfast. The firm had a varied architectural output including various villas and housing terraces around Cos. Antrim, Armagh and Down. In 1907, No. 2 was valued at £35 15s and resided in by Herbert Wragg, with the immediate lessor being George Bell. By 1910 the resident is listed as Henry Bell who was still listed in the later revisions of 1928-30. Both houses had grass tennis courts in the gardens which were used by the local community during the early twentieth century. Henry Bell, a Presbyterian ‘Provision Merchant’, appears in the 1911 Census, aged 38, in residence with his son George, aged 5 and daughter Margaret, aged 1 year, and a domestic servant called Anne Bell. The accompanying House and Building Return lists a first class dwelling with 10 windows in front and 14 occupied rooms. Out offices are listed as a stable, harness room, cow house, boiling house and five stores. G&H Bell is listed in the provincial directory until 1980 before reappearing in 1986 as insurance and investment consultants. The house is named as The Manse on the 25” inch map of the 1970s. No 2. was purchased by the congregation of the adjacent Hillsborough Presbyterian Church in 1963 and was in use as the Presbyterian Manse from that time until 2016 when it was purchased by the present owners. Since then, the kitchen has been extended to south-east and the rear entrance relocated to the link block; the mews building has been converted to residential accommodation.

Primary Sources
1. PRONI Valuation Revisions: VAL/12/B/20/14C+14D+14E
2. Belfast and Province of Ulster Directories (1861-1990)

Online sources
1. https://www.dia.ie/architects/view/2542/HOBART-HENRYWILLIAMEDWARD#tab_biography
2. https://www.dia.ie/architects/view/2541/HOBART%26HERON
3. https://www.hillsboroughpresbyterianchurch.co.uk/about/history-of-hpc.php
4. http://lisburn.com/books/childhood-memories/childhood-memories1.htm
5. http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Down/Hillsborough/Lisburn_Street/249948/

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
X. Local Interest
V. Authorship

Evaluation

No. 2 Lisburn Road is a substantial two-storey three-bay Edwardian villa, built 1903 to designs by local architect Henry Hobart, as one of an identical pair with its neighbour, No.4. The pair are prominently located within undivided mature terraced gardens on the east side of the road on approach to Hillsborough village centre, just north of the Conservation Area boundary. A fine example of an early C20 villa, distinguished by good proportions with ornamentation characteristic of the period. Laid out beneath a complex roof structure to ensure maximum light through canted bays on almost all elevations, with a very high quality, spacious internal layout, all largely intact. The house retains a wealth of original fabric, including a distinctive openwork timber verandah, original timber windows - with a variety of glazing - and entrance doors. Group value is particularly high, as an identical pair of detached villas of this quality, retaining high authenticity value is rare. The house is enhanced by the survival of the original ancillary structures, the linking out-offices and stable building to rear. Although the latter has been converted for residential use, its original external form remains legible. The house is further enhanced by the quality of its setting, including good wrought iron gates and curved gate screen and piers. The small modern extension to the side is wholly sympathetic to the house, and adds to the charm and amenity of the small courtyard formed by the main house to the front and stable to the rear.

General comments

Listing Query ref: HB/LQ163