5 Beach Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Attached single-bay three-storey watch-tower, part of the former Coastguard station, built 1870, located to the west side of Beach Road. Square-on-plan; chalet style two-storey extension to west.

Roof is pitched and natural slated; brick corbelled chimney with concrete coping; replacement pots. Walls are English garden wall bonded red brick over painted rendered plinth; corbelled string course at second floor. Windows are square-headed timber framed sliding sash in stepped vermiculated sandstone surrounds, unless otherwise stated.

Principal elevation faces east and contains 8/8 sliding sash window in segmental-headed surround at ground floor; pair of 4/6 windows at first floor with rendered surround shared with pointed oriel window at second floor; rendered corbelled support; diagonal timber apron; leaded roof.

South elevation abutted by HB22/06/011B. Exposed wall has projecting flue above ridge line at left; gunport in sandstone surround at ground and seecond floor right.

West elevation abutted by extension; single timber casement window at ground floor.

North elevation contains group of three pointed-arched-headed windows at ground floor surmounted by oriel at second floor (detailed as east). Abutted by extension; entrance door at centre surmounted by oculus; window at ground and first floor right.
Building is set within its own grounds with access to the south-east through vermiculated square sandstone gate pillars; car-park and modern garages to north-west; enclosed yard to west.

Roof: Pitched natural slate
Walling: English garden wall bonded red brick
Windows: Square-headed timber framed sliding sash in vermiculated sandstone surrounds
RWG: Profiled uPVC gutters and replacement uPVC downpipes

Historical information

The current Coastguard Station on Beach Road first appears on the third edition OS map of 1902. An earlier group of Coastguard cottages, sited at Marine Pararde, is recorded on the first edition OS map of 1832.

The terrace was built in 1870 to replace these earlier cottages. Accommodation was originally provided for a chief boatman and five coastguards. Early photographs show no entrances to the cottages on the east (shore) side, and information from the current owners suggest these were added in the latter half of the twentieth century. The photographs also show that the Captain’s house (no 10) was originally brickwork as the other cottages.

The coastguard service in Whitehead was established in 1820-1, listed as in Black Head. According to a current resident, whose father was a coastguard at Whitehead, a passage formerly ran the length of the terrace from the Captain’s house to the fortified watchtower aiding freedom of movement between the cottages in the event of an attack, a suggestion reinforced by the gunports and musket loops present throughout. Renovation of the terrace, including replacement windows, doors, and kitchen extensions, was carried out in 1986-9.

The Valuation Revisions of 1864-1879 lists a Coast Guard Station, house and garden, valued at £20. A note from the 1880s Revisions notes ‘there is no chief officer’s house here’. An entry in 1914 notes ‘one house vacant since January 1911, [with a] value of £3.

According to Brett the coast guard cottages were built in 1870 at a cost of £1,732 18s 2d. These were part of ‘the extensive series of “stations” erected in the mid 19th century around the coastline of Antrim, and of Ireland. The Coastguard was at this period administered by the Admiralty: “a naval force maintained in Great Britain and Ireland to suppress smuggling, aid shipwrecked vessels and serve as a reserve to the navy”’.(Brett, pg.281).

The following is an extract from a letter sent in December 1871, by D. Hornby Sec of the O.P.W (Office of Public Works) to William Gray Esq. Belfast regarding the Whitehead Coastguard Station. It reads ‘Sir, the Admiralty has been requested to authorize the proper officer of the coastguard to arrange with you the taking over the possession of the new buildings at Whitehead as soon as the few matters now in hand are finished by the Contractor’.

References

Primary Sources:
1. PRONI OS/6/1/47 - Third Edition OS Map (1902)
2. PRONI OS/6/1/47- Seventh Edition (1930)
3. PRONI VAL/12/D/1/47C - Valuation Revision Map
4. PRONI VAL/12/B/7/18A-F - Valuations Revisions (1864-1929)

Secondary Sources:
1. Brett, C.E.B; Buildings of County Antrim. UAHS, 1996.
2. Board of Works Letter Books. National Archives, Bishop St. Dublin
3. Coast Guard History Website. [Internet source].
Available from: , accessed
11/12/08
4. Information from current owners

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest
Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance

Evaluation

An attached single-bay three-storey watch-tower, part of the former Coastguard station, built 1870, located to the west side of Beach Road. The house has been extended and restored in recent years to incorporate circulation and living accommodation. Despite this, the tower retains many original features to the exterior, including gunports, evidence of the groups defensible past. This terrace has a prominent location on an elevated site above Beach Road, with attractive views to Belfast Lough, ideally located for its original maritime use. It serves as evidence of the history to suppress smuggling, aid shipwrecked vessels and serve as a reserve to the navy.