10 Beach Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Attached end-of-terrace three-bay two-storey former Captain's House, part of the former Coastguard station, built 1870, located to the west side of Beach Road. L-shaped-on-plan.

Roof is half-hipped and natural slated; timber bargeboards; red brick corbelled chimney to party wall and rear pitch. Walls are ruled-and-lined rendered over rendered plinth; smooth render to rear elevation; sandstone sill course at first floor. Windows are segmental-headed replacement uPVC casements; vermiculated sandstone surrounds; painted masonry sills, unless otherwise stated.

Principal elevation faces east; recessed bay to left containing replacement square-headed uPVC entrance door with transom light with vermiculated sandstone surround (accessed by two concrete steps); small square timber framed casement window to left; two bays to right each contain window at each floor.

South elevation contains, at left, square timber framed casement window at ground floor surmounted by timber framed 1/1 sliding sash window at first floor; triangular oriel timber framed window at first floor right; diagonal timber aproning; leaded roof; corbelled bracket support.

West elevation contains central timber vertically sheeted half door with transom light; timber framed 6/6 sliding sash window to each floor at left and ground floor at right; surmounted by triangular oriel window (detailed as east); gunports to underside.

North elevation abutted by HB22/06/011H.

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. Rubble boundary wall to south and west.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: Ruled-and-lined render
Windows: Partly segmental-headed replacement uPVC casements; partly timber sliding sash; vermiculated sandstone surrounds
RWG: Half-round cast-iron gutters

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
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

An attached three-bay two-storey former Captain’s house, part of the former Coastguard station, built 1870, located to the west side of Beach Road. The Captain’s house is perhaps the grander of the terrace, finished in white painted render (although not originally) and still retains many original features, such as musket loops and oriel windows. The terrace has a prominent location on an elevated site above Beach Road, with attractive views to Belfast Lough, ideally located for the original maritime use. It serves as evidence of the history to suppress smuggling, aid shipwrecked vessels and serve as a reserve to the navy.

General comments

This record has been renumbered as part of a group - previously HB22.06.011F.