Orient House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two storey rendered Edwardian house with eclectic mix of styles with Tudor details and castellations, including a belvedere tower. The house is set in mature grounds on the Upper Road, Greenisland with the Co Antrim war memorial on Knockagh mountain behind.

The front elevatiion which faces SE is symmetrical about a central three storey castellated tower. The ground floor of the tower has a 5 panelled scumbled door with Tudor arched overlight and side lights. The door opening has a hood moulding with moulded faces as stop ends. On the two floors above are six-light rectangular windows with solid mullions and transom, again surmounted with a hood moulding. To either side of the tower are semi-circular 2 storey bays with three 1/1 timber sliding sash windows on each floor. The entire front and side elevations are castellated.

Side elevation to SW has a two storey bay as front, but with a continuous heavy moulding carrying an ogee CI guttering. This moulding was removed from the front bays during repairs. A rendered chimney stack arises from the castellations to the right of the bay.

Side elevation to NE. Flush rendered wall of main house has two SS timber windows on each floor. The rear return has a 2/2 SS window on each floor. Chimney as SW.

Rear elevation to NW has a 2 storey lined rendered return to the left with a simple flat roof. A previous parapet was removed. The original garage is to the left and has timber sheeted doors. To the right is a single storey enclosed yard and further to the right is a relatively modern lean-to conservatory. To the right of the conservatiory are the remains of the tiled floor of the original conservatory that was damaged and removed after a storm.

At the rear is a large walled garden enclosed with a red clay brick wall. The SE wall has 2 rendered simply detailed stores, and a more elaborate garage with integral veranda. The garage has a double pitched natural slate roof with decorated barge boards to the NW and a castellated gable to the SW matching the main house. This is surmounted by a CI weather vane. In front of this is the open fronted veranda. It has a glazed mono pitch roof, partially glazed side walls. The front has ornate CI spandril brackets supported on timber posts.

The front boundary wall to Upper Road is contructed of reconstituted stone and is a late twentieth century addition as part of a road widening scheme. To the East is a narrow lane that gives acccess to the rear of Orient House through simple rendered gate posts and to two other properties.

Historical information

The plot now occupied by this house is shown undeveloped on the OS 6in map of 1901-02. The present building first appears in the Belfast and Province of Ulster Directory in 1905, indicating that it was constructed in that year or, as the present owner states, 1904. The property was originally named ‘Orient House’ and appears to have been built for a Mrs. Susan Laughlin (or Laughlan). The identity of the architect is not known. Mrs Laughlin resided in the house until 1945, when the lease passed to [?]her relative Mr. William Martin. Mr. Martin acquired the freehold in 1957. The current occupant inherited the house in 1966.

According to the owner the building was originally flat-roofed, but due to leakage this was replaced with the present pitched one at a relatively early point. This change must have taken place some time before 1935, for no major alterations are listed in the valuation records after this date.*

The name ‘Orient House’ may indicate some connection with overseas trade. When the house was built Greenisland was a popular place of residence for ship’s captains and ships pilots.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI VAL/12B/7/6A Annual valuation revision book, Carrickfergus Rural ED, 1894-1907
2 PRONI OS/6/1/52/3 OS map 6in county series, Antrim sheet 52, 1901-02
3 Belfast and Province of Ulster Directory (Henderson & Co.) 1904-
4 PRONI VAL/12B/7/6B Annual valuation revision book, Carrickfergus Rural ED, 1908-18
5 PRONI VAL/12B/7/6C Annual valuation revision book, Carrickfergus Rural ED, 1919-27
6 PRONI VAL/12E/35/1/1-3 Valuation town plan of Greenisland, 1919 (with revisions up to
1935
7 PRONI VAL/12B/7/6D Annual valuation revision book, Carrickfergus Rural ED, 1928-29
8 PRONI VAL/3B/1/12 Ist General Valuation Revision of Northern Ireland, 1935
9 PRONI VAL/3A/1/52D Ist General Revaluation of Northern Ireland map, County Antrim
sheet 52, 1936 (with revisions up to 1947)
10 PRONI VAL/3C/1/21 Ist General Revaluation of Northern Ireland, 1936-57
11 PRONI VAL/4B/1/36 2nd General Revaluation of Northern Ireland, 1957-72

Secondary sources
1 Information from owner (February 2007)

*Due to maintenance work within PRONI’s stores, many of the pre-1929 valuation books were unavailable for consultation when the writer carried out this research. These books should be able to supply a date for the construction of the present roof.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

This is a little changed 2-storey detached Edwardian house in a free style which has unusual external detailing and substantial local interest where it is known as 'The Castle'. The house is enhanced by its separate veranda attached to the garage which backs on to a large walled garden.

General comments

*Building Preservation Notice Served on this property on 31/10/2006**