Edenmore Care Home

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

NOTE: THIS BUILDING HAS BEEN DEMOLISHED AND MODERN APARTMENTS HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED ON SITE. THE FOLLOWING DESCRIPTION IS OF THE DEMOLISHED BUILDING:

An asymmetrical two-storey three-bay Italianate house with additions, built c.1850, located to the east of Shore road and now in use as a nursing home. The house is square-on-plan with projecting right bay to south and full-height bowed bay to east; there is a two-storey L-shaped return to west having a single-storey addition to rear. Fronting the return and part of the main block, and accommodating the entrance porch, is a single-storey extension (c.1890) and campanile tower, now further extended to west by a modern flat-roofed addition (c.1970, of no interest). There are attached outbuildings forming a courtyard to northwest.

Roof is hipped natural slate with central valley to main block; ridges and hips are leaded. There are eight large rendered chimneystacks with cornice-cap and discs in place of pots; the return has a taller two-stage chimneystack with decorative circular vents, double cornice and round-headed aperture to shaft; the return also has an ornate wrought-iron finial. The tower has a leaded pyramidal roof. The single-storey extension has a pitched glazed lantern (lighting a former ballroom). Overhanging eaves throughout have large plain modillions (possibly iron) to a moulded frieze’ they support ogee cast-iron guttering with a regular lion’s head embossed motif, and cast-iron downpipes. (Plastic rainwater goods to the tower)

Walling is painted ruled-and-lined rendered with rusticated stucco quoins throughout and a tall moulded plinth course. The extension has a decorative balustraded parapet resting on a plain frieze and deep moulded cornice which extends around the main block as a moulded string course between floors. The extension is embellished with rendered pilasters flanking all openings, and blind roundels.

Window openings are generally segmental-headed to the first floor and square-headed to ground floor with moulded stucco architraves. First floor has 6/6 timber sash windows (no horns) with keystone and moulded corbelled sill; ground floor has 1/1 horned sashes with continuous moulded sill course having corbels and apron panels beneath openings. The extension has round-headed 1/1 horned sashes with architrave surrounds, and moulded sill course between pilasters. Windows to bowed bays have corresponding bowed sashes; windows to the right of the principal entrance have been replaced by fixed-pane timber-framed windows. The tower has three round-headed timber casement windows to all sides flanked by engaged Doric columns on plinth bases and supporting an architrave and panelled frieze.

Principal elevation faces south (southeast). The main block has a projecting right bay and central and left bays are fronted by the entrance extension. There is a window to each bay at first floor (and to ground floor right bay); that to central bay is a double window. The extension accommodates the recessed principal entrance to right of centre, having a bow with triple window to its right, a double window to its left, a further bow with triple window to extended left side, and a narrow timber entrance door in round-headed recess to extreme left. The principal entrance is round-headed with a moulded architrave and original door-case comprising double oak doors with decorative panels, dentilled timber lintel cornice with a carved crest and a plain glazed fanlight. The door opens onto a tiled platform accessed by three tiled steps. The campanile tower has two visible stages, with round headed windows to higher stage (see above), and a square-headed window in decorative stucco surround to lower stage.

The east (garden elevation) is symmetrical and arranged with a window to each floor at either side of central full-height bow.

The north elevation of the main block is abutted by a modern single-storey pre-fabricated addition; the exposed ground floor (left) has two 2/2 horizontally divided sashes; first floor has three 6/6 windows, and right side has two blind round-headed niches at mid-level and a number of diminutive modern openings.

The west elevation of the main block is almost completely abutted by the return (see below) and a modern brick outshot to first floor centre; the exposed first floor right has a window as others.

The return is almost entirely abutted at ground floor by the extension at south, the addition and outbuilding at north, and a slightly lower former service range at west. The exposed first floor has a number of square 1/1 sash windows with plain stucco surrounds and moulded sills. The addition is similarly detailed.

Setting:

The house is fronted by a bitmac parking area to front. There is an attached courtyard of original outbuildings to northwest with pitched natural slate roofs, rendered chimneystacks and rendered walling. A curvilinear gable marks the end of the south service range where it abuts the west range, which in turn also has a defined north gable rising above the later range of outbuildings. An additional range of outbuildings (c.1940) extends considerably in a northwest direction. The former grounds have been developed and now accommodate several housing estates.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: rendered
Windows: timber
RWG: cast-iron

Historical information

The building first appears on the Second Edition OS Map of 1857. Griffith's Valuation of 1859, records the property as a ‘house, offices, gate lodge and land’, which is occupied by James Torens and leased from William J.B. Lyons.. The building is valued at £146.0s.0d.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/1/57/2 - Second Edition OS Map (1857)
2. PRONI VAL/1/A/1/57 - Townland Valuation Map (1836)
3. PRONI VAL/1/B/115 - Townland Valuation (1836)
4. PRONI VAL/2/A/1/57 -Griffith's Valuation map (1859)
5. PRONI VAL/2/B/1/12A -Griffith's Valuation (1859)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Former large Victorian residence, now demolished and with modern apartments constructed on site. Buildings had a number of impressive external features such as a two-storey bow to the former garden elevation, a tower to the west and a later front projection.

General comments

Planning Application U/2011/0135/F Date of Application 30/03/2011 re Demolition of existing care home and erection of new 60 bed care home (Amended proposal). Permission was granted 29/04/2013. NIEA HBU were not consulted regarding this application