Knockrath

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

An asymmetrical three-bay two-storey detached red-brick house, built c.1920 and located on a large mature site in Fort Hill, north of Lisburn city centre. Rectangular main block with two two-storey returns to rear (that to east is longer and has a hipped roof); two-storey canted bay windows to south and west; single-storey extension (2002) with conservatory to rear.

Pitched and hipped natural slate roof with decorative terracotta ridge tiles and finials; red-brick chimneystacks having sandstone plinth and clay pots; decorative bargeboards and finials to gables. Cast-iron ogee rainwater goods on overhanging eaves. Walling is English garden wall-bonded red-brick on chamfered plinth with decorative brick string course above ground floor windows and a sandstone string course between floors. Windows are mainly bipartite or tripartite 1/1 timber-framed sliding sash with horns and projecting sandstone sills, in segmental-headed reveals, most with decorative sandstone keyblock. Canted bays with paired windows to central section and dentilled eaves.

The principal elevation faces south, two openings wide to left with gablet over first floor window and single-storey slated open porch abutting a projecting gabled bay to right. Gabled bay contains two-storey canted bay window. Porch is partially glazed with decorative timber struts resting on a brick and sandstone plinth, accessed via three terrazzo steps. Entrance door has two raised-and-pointed panels, decorative carved panel below corbelled sill; side lights and segmental-headed transom light; brass door furniture.

The west elevation is a window wide to left (bipartite to first floor and tripartite to ground floor); gabled bay to right contains two-storey canted bay window.

The rear (north) elevation is abutted by hipped return at left and gabled return at right, which is further abutted by the single-storey extension with conservatory opening to west. The gabled return has a bipartite window at first floor left; the hipped return has a single window to ground floor, and two windows at first floor of west elevation.

The east elevation has projecting square bay to centre with leaded and stained glass stairwell window above diminutive window; right section is three openings wide with entrance door at left. Entrance comprises half-panelled timber door surmounted by transom light and decorative timber canopy having exposed rafter ends and brackets terminating in drop finials. Left section is blank with projecting chimney flue (chimney removed).

Setting:
Set on an elevated site in mature grounds with lawned and shrubbed garden to all sides enclosed by mature hedgerow; steps to southeast and southwest having sandstone parapet wall with redbrick piers. Tarmacadamed driveway to southeast ending in slated red-brick detached garage with original up-and-over door and timber-panelled bowed ceiling with lattice panels. Entrance comprises two tall red-brick square gate piers with sandstone caps, supporting replacement timber gates.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: English garden wall bonded red-brick
Windows: 1/1 timber-framed sash
RWG: Cast-iron

Historical information

The present house, known as Knockrath, is not shown on historic map editions up to 1921 (the fifth edition was not available at the time of writing) and is said to have been built c1920. Knockrath, and its neighbour Lisnabreena, (HB19/15/017) were built by William Lindsay Woods (owner information), linen manufacturer, who later lived at number 2 until at least 1943. His 1911 census return records, unusually, both himself and his wife as linen manufacturers, possibly of the firm ‘Fiddes, Woods and Co’, linen and handkerchief manufacturers and bleachers with premises in James Street South in Belfast. (Belfast/Ulster Street Directory, 1901) According to the IHR, there is a brick kiln located in the grounds.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/1/68/3 – Third Edition OS Map c1900
2. PRONI OS/6/1/68/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1921
3. PRONI OS/6/1/68/5 – Fifth Edition OS Map 1939
4. Belfast/Ulster Street Directory, 1901
5. 1911 census online
Secondary Sources
1. Owner information

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

Evaluation

Knockrath is a well-preserved three-bay two-storey detached red-brick house , built c.1920 and located on a large mature site in Fort Hill, north of Lisburn town centre. Well-proportioned with much of its architectural detailing intact, it is a good representative of the types of homes built by the professional classes during Lisburn’s expansion in the early 20th century. The internal floor-plan is largely intact, with a wealth of historic fabric and detailing. Originally built by a local linen merchant, it has group value with Ardfoyle (HB19/15/017), a similar house also built by him on an adjacent site. Located in the Fort Hill district of Lisburn, an area largely unspoiled by development, it retains its original garage and makes a significant contribution to the heritage of the area.