The Farthings

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A two-storey, three-bay brick Arts and Crafts house built c. 1930, possibly to designs by R.H Gibson, located on the north side of Circular Road, Jordanstown. L-shaped on plan, facing east with projecting gabled right bay and extensive return extending to west; full-height entrance bay to re-entrant angle; attached garage to north.

Tiled roof, part gambrel, with hipped M-profile to south elevation, deep overhanging boarded eaves; tall brown brick chimneystacks with corbelled caps; half round cast-iron rainwater goods with decorated box hopper heads; bargeboards with drop finials to gables. Walling is stretcher bonded brown brick, unless otherwise stated. Windows are aluminium side-hung casements in timber frames, no cills (all first floor windows have heads at eaves level).

Principal elevation is asymmetrical. At left is a full-height entrance bay, tile-hung above off-set recessed entrance porch with window to right and central window over. Central bay has French doors to ground floor with integral two-pane sidelights. First floor has a three-pane window. Projecting right bay is fronted by a full-height canted bay detailed as before and supporting a jettied tile-hung gabled apex.

South elevation has central single casement at ground floor; double casement to either side at first floor.

West elevation is abutted by return and entrance bay at left. Exposed right side has two windows to each floor. Entrance has jettied-out gable over first floor oriel (all tile hung). Open recessed corner entrance porch, each side framed by shallow Tudor arched timber opening and partially enclosed by timber balustrade. Tiled threshold, timber panelled door. Window to either side of entrance.

Return has been modified with enlarged and replacement openings. Former door openings to west gable have been blocked.

North elevation is abutted right by a garage extension (detailed as house). Exposed ground floor has a lean-to outshot at left end, single casement and modern French doors to remainder. First floor has one double and three single casements to first floor.

Setting

Concealed from road in extensive grounds planted with mature trees. Access afromt south via curved driveway flanked at entrance with timber gate piers. Lawns to south and east; patio to north.

Roof: Tiled
Walling: Brown brick
Windows: aluminium casements, timber frames
Rainwater goods: cast-iron

Historical information

The building is first shown on the fifth edition OS map of 1932. It is captioned ‘Tol-Ana’ in the sixth edition OS map of 1936-8.
According to the first survey information, the site of The Farthings was originally part of the grounds of Edenmore, which was formerly located to the northwest of the current property. The second and third OS maps show formal grounds laid with avenues and drives. The house was built between 1928 and 1932. The current owner states that large parts of the ground floor, particularly the stair hall, were destroyed by a bomb blast in the early 1970s.

The owner of a neighbouring property, (HB21/08/006), also designed by R.H. Gibson, stated that the two houses were designed by the same architect. They share many stylistic qualities including roof structure and tile hung bays, although the materials are in deep contrast.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/1/57-3 Third Edition OS Map (1902)
2. PRONI OS/6/1/57/5 –Fifth Edition OS Map (1932)

Secondary Sources

1. First Survey Information, 1991.
2. Information from current and neighbouring owners.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A two-storey, three-bay brick Arts and Crafts house built c. 1930, possibly to designs by R.H Gibson. The Farthings is set in extensive grounds in a residential area which is characterised by high quality buildings. Stylistically, the house draws on Arts and Crafts and Domestic Revival traditions, with jettied out gables, tall chimneys and tile hung detailing but is a late example of the style. Little interior detailing remains intact, with the exception of a small proportion of original joinery. This is not one of the best examples of the type and there are other, better houses of this vintage listed.