1 Parkmount

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Three-storey, two-bay Victorian end-of-terrace townhouse built c.1900; square plan form with a large two-storey rectangular rear return. Located off Belsize Road, north of Lisburn town centre, directly adjacent to Wallace Park.

Natural slate hipped roof with leaded hips and crested clay ridge tiles. Large stucco cavetto cornice at eaves level, painted white with cast-iron ogee moulded gutter to the front and side elevation, semi circular cast-iron to the rear; large section box cast-iron downpipes to front elevation. Large brick chimney stack located over the ridge line with six large clay pots over. Red-brick Flemish bond walling with projecting brick plinth changing to English Garden Wall bond to the rear return. The windows are single-glazed timber 1/1 sliding sash with horns, painted white with large rectangular sandstone cills. 1 ½ brick flat arches over window openings; brick keyblock with moulded cornice detail over. Timber door with four bolection moulded, raised-and-pointed panels with rectangular fixed light over flanked by plain pilasters, decorated at cornice level with egg-and-dart moulding, rising to large foliated console brackets, supporting cornice over.

The principal elevation faces south and is asymmetrically arranged. The front door is located off centre to the right and is accessed by two stone steps and flanked by two windows: on the right, a large timber framed stained glass leaded light; on the left, a sash window. Upper floors have two equally spaced windows. The first floor windows have projected brick detailing under the cill. The heads of the second floor windows are embedded into the large cornice detail at eaves level. On the far left is a two-storey, shallow pitched, lead cover box bay, projecting from the corner of the building at a 45º angle with a single window to either side and paired windows to the front; additional decorated terracotta string course over openings, rising to a corbel brick course at eaves level.

The left elevation is asymmetrically arranged, matching the detailing of the principal elevation. Large projecting bay located at the right hand side with a single window over. To the left are uniformly arranged windows serving all levels.

The rear elevation is asymmetrically arranged with a large hipped two-storey return projecting northwards from the left hand bay overlooking the yard and garden. Uniformly arranged windows, with reduced detailing, serving all levels are located on the right. The return is asymmetrically arranged with a single-storey modern hipped projecting bay located right of centre. The bay has been constructed using sympathetic materials. The rear door is located to the left of the bay. The rear chimney which also serves the adjoining property is located to the left over the ridge line and has had alterations to the upper bricks courses. Cast-iron rain water goods with a tall SVP extending high above eaves level. Metal framed roof light located to the left of the chimney-stack serving a light-well over the first floor hallway. A further single storey lean-to extension projects northwards with a modern conservation-style light located in the roof.

The right elevation abuts adjoining building 2 Parkmount. (HB19/15/010B)

Setting:

The building directly overlooks the large mature trees and open green space in the adjacent Wallace Park and Lisburn cricket ground. To the east is the remaining terrace block of matching style and quality. The gardens are well matured and encompass the building on three sides. To the rear of the building is a two storey former stable in red brick with a pitched natural slate roof with painted timber soffits and some cast metal rainwater goods. On south gable of stable there are 2 no. 2/2 timber single glazed sliding sash windows and part of the original yard walling exists at ground level with original yard gate acting as door to a small modern garage extension. The modern single storey flat roof garage extension on the east elevation has a single modern metal garage door and there is a 20th century single glazed metal window at first floor level. There is a small single storey lean-to extension on the west elevation. The foundations of the original greenhouse exist to the south of the stable and are now covered with a raised flower bed. To the rear of the house is tarmac cover vehicular access with modern dwellings erected beyond.

Roofing: Natural slate
Walling: Red Brick
Windows: Timber sliding sash
RWG: Cast-iron

Historical information

Parkmount Terrace first appears on the third edition OS maps 1901-02 and is illustrated as a simple oblong row with no apparent returns. It is possible that the terrace was only part complete; still under construction at the time of printing the map, as the completed terrace includes rear returns and a stable block adjacent to number 1. On its first appearance in the Annual Revisions of 1901-11 all the buildings are recorded as being vacant in 1902, suggesting that they were either just completed, or at least nearly completed. The landlord was recorded as Hugh G Larmor who also occupied ‘Montreagh’, the larger, earlier house located on the same plot, thus suggesting that the terrace was a development to the rear of his own house.

Number 1, which included a stable to the rear as well as a yard and small garden was valued at £37 in 1902, although it appears to have remained unoccupied until 1908 when John Larmour, a possible relative to Hugh, was recorded as occupier. He remained there until 1912 when James Carson took over the tenancy; at which point the value was reduced to £34. Rev George W Thompson became tenant in 1918 and remained there for at least 15 years during which period the value of the property had increased again to £36.

Primary Reference:

1. PRONI OS/6/1/68/4 – OS Map 1921
2. PRONI OS/6/1/68/5 – OS Map 1939
3. PRONI VAL/12/B/8/9P – Annual Revisions 1901-11
4. PRONI VAL/12/B/8/9Q – Annual Revisions 1911-22
5. PRONI VAL/12/B/8/9S – Annual Revisions 1921-24
6. PRONI VAL/12/B/8/10B – Annual Revisions 1924-31
7. PRONI VAL/12/A/1/108 – Annual Revisions Notebook 1901-04
8. PRONI VAL/12/A/1/114 – Annual Revisions Notebook 1921-22

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

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A three-storey Victorian end-of-terrace townhouse built c.1900, located on the perimeter of Wallace Park surrounded by mature trees and open green space. The interior of the building has been largely unaltered, retaining much of its original plan form and the existing plaster and joinery work, which adds to the special interest. Minor alterations carried out have been done sympathetically. The external fabric of the building has also been largely unaltered. The style, proportions and detailing of the building and its adjoining neighbours are of a higher quality than most Victorian terraces, and as a small group of four, each one forms an integral part of their group value and setting.