'Edenfells' 4 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, north and south elevations, and a lean-to verandah to west. There is a single-storey link block to south-east, linking to a two-storey stable building at east.

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 north pitches, and over south 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 unpainted rendered walling over a painted 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. Original plain timber sash windows with horns, some having original glazing; uPVC windows to attic at east; principal elevations have stop-end chamfered reveals, plain reveals to rear elevation and link block; stone sills throughout.

Front (west) elevation has a projecting canted bay to left with two openings to its right; 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 floor accessed by three full-width granite steps and having timber boarded soffit over exposed rafters. Original varnished oak entrance door with transom light over set into moulded reveal, comprising six bolection-moulded panels, beaded muntin and original polished brass knob and knocker; granite threshold; original brass and enamel push-bell to right reveal.

North elevation has a central projecting canted bay; to its right is a window to each floor. To its left are two openings to each floor, comprising to obscurely glazed windows to first floor and the secondary entrance door, which has four etched glass panels over two raised-and-fielded bolection moulded bottom panels and a rectangular transom light; two concrete steps to granite threshold and brass push-bell to right.

Rear elevation is abutted to ground floor left by the link block; it has one window to ground floor centre, one set to left at first floor, and a pair of windows to attic level. The link block has four windows to south elevation; its north elevation is open to the left side beneath a painted masonry lintel and there is a window to right. It is abutted at east by the former stable building.

South elevation has canted bay to left, large semi-circular arched timber-framed stairwell window to centre having original leaded and stained glass over ground floor window. Right 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 right (see above).

The house occupies an elevated site in large self-contained grounds with mature trees, without boundaries with the adjoining property (HB19/05/157); terraced lawns to front having two flights of granite steps to the main entrance; tarmac perimeter and large L-shaped rear gardens having hedge boundary and the site, now lawned, of a former tennis court. There is a simple glasshouse to east and a plainly detailed detached garage to north-east. Two-storey stable building to rear having central gablet over former loading door, now a timber casement window; pitched slate roof with terracotta ridges and finials, simple projecting eaves, ruled-and-lined rendered walling and generally with original timber sash windows; casement windows to loft. Ground floor has t&g sheeted timber doors with transom lights to stable and harness room, double-timber sheeted garage doors to right. 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 (detached at time of survey). Neighbouring building is similarly configured, located immediately to south.

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. 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. “The Lawn” (No.2) & “Edenfells” (No.4, later “The Manse”) 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. When it first appears in the valuation records in 1905, No. 4 was occupied by George Bell, valued at £35 15s. The following year Bell is listed as a JP and he had served as a county councillor in 1900. His daughter, Miss Sarah Bell, also lived with him at Edenfells. By 1918 the resident is listed as Henry Bell senior 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. G & H Bell is listed in the provincial directory until 1980 before reappearing in 1986 as insurance and investment consultants. The two houses are named on the 25 inch map in the 1970s. The house has been in the family of the present occupants for seventy years since c.1950.

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
http://lisburn.com/books/childhood-memories/childhood-memories1.htm

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

No.4 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.2. 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 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 ancillary out-offices to the side and stable block to the rear; these combining to form a small courtyard - all intact, providing a complete insight into the domestic workings of a house of this age, size and location. The gardens to the rear, together with glasshouse, add to the significance and quality of the setting, which also includes, at the road entrance, a curved gate screen and piers.

General comments

Listing Query ref: HB/LQ163