31 Farnham Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A large symmetrical two-storey three-bay detached stucco house, built 1818, remodelled 1845. Located on the corner of Farnham Road and Downshire Road to the west of Bangor town centre. Rectangular on plan with single-storey castellated wings and a double-height and two-storey return to rear.

Hipped natural slate roof with two centred chimneystacks having tall terracotta pots and moulded caps. Cast-iron half-round rainwater goods on corbelled eaves. Walling is smooth painted render/stucco. Windows are replacement 6/6 timber sliding sash with horns (those to rear returns are replacement sliding sash) having label moulds with decorative stops and projecting painted masonry sills.

The principal elevation faces east and is five openings wide. Central segmental-headed entrance consists of entrance door accessed by deep tiled step, comprising: six-panelled timber door with brass door furniture; stained glass fanlight and side-lights with timber moulded surround, framed by Doric pilasters and archivolt. Stucco escutcheons above ground floor windows and giant pilasters to corners. Single-storey castellated wings on each side having blind arched niches, hood moulds and keyblocks.

The south elevation has single window at left to first floor.

The west elevation has two window openings to first floor and an etched glass double-leaf door to left at ground floor; catslide roof to left containing single uPVC window: abutted by a two-storey return, which is connected to west to the c.1818 section of the house. Exposed section of the rear return contains, to right; diminutive window opening to far right, wall-head dormer to centre and double-leaf doors below. To left it is abutted by a double-height pitched roof return containing timber double-leaf doors, single window opening and modern timber door to extreme right. The c.1818 block to west has two replacement sash windows to each floor at gable; exposed section to left with large multi-paned window to ground floor.

The north elevation has a single opening to first floor and is abutted at ground floor by a single-storey extension with cat-slide roof, containing two simple timber doors.

Setting

Lawned to front with a double entrance and paved driveway; large garden to south enclosed by hedgerow. Bounded to road to east by hedgerow and rubble-stone wall; painted masonry gate piers with pointed caps to both entrances; each supporting large cast-iron gate.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: Render
Windows: Timber
RWG: Cast-iron

Historical information

‘Seaview’ dates from c.1818 and appears to have been extensively remodelled c.1845. At the time it was built, it occupied a solitary location overlooking Bangor Bay and was gradually surrounded by development as Bangor began to flourish in the late nineteenth century.

The land on which ‘Seaview’ stands was leased to Jane Rabb (or Robb) by William Orr of Bangor in 1818 and a house was built by Rabb’s son-in-law, William Richey, at some time prior to the first ordnance survey. One secondary source states that the house dates to the reign of George III which would mean that it was built very soon after the land was acquired. Information supplied by a former owner supports the view that the house was built in 1818. Owner information also suggests that there was an earlier structure on the site, a single-storey vernacular dwelling, which forms the kitchen and pantries of the present house, and is believed to date from the late eighteenth century. (Historical notes, Morton, p.38) However, map evidence does not support this view: the 1833 map shows a single block without returns.

The house is shown, uncaptioned, on the first edition OS map of 1833 as a simple rectangular block. It is listed in the Townland Valuation (1828-40) as the residence of William Richie (Surgeon) and is a house, offices and yard valued at £11.00. A Dr William Ritchey is also listed in the fieldbook as having premises at 143 Main Street.

In her will of 11 October 1845, Jane Rabb bequeathed the “the two lower of my fields, on the lowest of which he has built his house called ‘Seaview’” to her son-in-law, William Richey. (Historical Notes)

By the second edition of 1858 the house has gained a return and is captioned ‘Seaview’. Patton states that the house was rebuilt or remodelled c.1845 at the time of Jane Rabb’s bequest.

In Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64) ‘Sea View’ is occupied by William Richey, leased from Lord Bangor and valued at £16, later raised to £17. It seems, however, that Mr Richey may not have lived in the house all year as the valuer notes, “This house is let for the season to bathers.”

In 1860, William Richey and his wife, Jane, bought the land on which the property was situated from William Orr, the grandson of the original leaseholder. Following this, the valuation was raised in 1869 to £24.10s indicating further improvements to the dwelling. (Historical Notes)

William Richey was a surgeon who died in 1890, but is unlikely to be the same man who built the house. He is perhaps a son. On his death, Richey left all his property to his wife Caroline Augusta Richey, formerly Lamont. (Historical Notes)

Dr Richey was a man of some standing in Bangor and was elected as one of the first Town Commissioners of the town in 1864, although it is not clear whether this was Richey senior or junior. (Morton, p.21)

In the ensuing years the property appears to have been let out to tenants. By 1899 the house is listed as the residence of Joseph McMacken who leases it from the Representatives of William Richey and in 1901 it is occupied by Robert Wilson who leases the property from Caroline Ritchie [sic], widow of William.

Caroline Richey died in 1906, instructing her executors to sell the house to the highest bidder at a public sale. The house was then bought for £755 by Alexander Brown, who owned it in fee, and was valued at £18 and £6 for outbuildings. A succession of occupiers follow: James Hunter Barrett (1914) who bought the house for £625, Hugh Morrow (1919) and Percy B Harris (1921). Sarah McHoon (1922) bought the house for £1450, and William Mathers (1924) for £1600. (Historical Notes)

Mrs Mathers sold the house to James E Maxwell and Denis F Whealer in 1950.

The house remains in use as a domestic dwelling.

References:

Primary Sources

1.PRONI OS/6/3/2/1 – First Edition OS Map 1833
2.PRONI OS/6/3/2/2 – Second Edition OS map 1858
3.PRONI OS/6/3/2/3 – Third Edition OS Map 1901
4.PRONI OS/6/3/2/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1919-26
5.PRONI OS/6/3/2/5 – Fifth Edition OS Map 1939
6.PRONI VAL/1/A/3/2 – Townland Valuation Map (1828-40)
7.PRONI VAL/1/B/31 – Townland Valuation (1828-40)
8.PRONI VAL/2/B/3/2 – Griffith’s Valuation Map (1856-64)
9.PRONI VAL/2/B/3/1C – Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64)
10.PRONI VAL/12/B/23/7A-K – Annual Revisions (1866-99)
11.PRONI VAL/12/B/23/9A-S – Annual Revisions (1900-1930)
12.PRONI VAL/12/E/129/1 – Annual Revisions Town Plans (c.1864-1899)
13.PRONI VAL/12/E/129/2 – Annual Revisions Town Plans (1898-c.1916)
14.PRONI Will of William Richey died 7/4/1890
15.PRONI Will of Caroline Richey died 25/4/1906
16.Historical notes - available in NIEA file HB23/14/004

Secondary Sources

1.Morton, G, ed. “Victorian Bangor, An Essay in Local History” Queen’s University of Belfast, Department of Extra-Mural Studies, 1972
2.Owner information, letter of 7th December 1975 in NIEA file HB23/14/004

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

An imposing symmetrical two-storey three-bay detached stucco house, located on the corner of Farnham Road and Downshire Road, to the west of Bangor town centre. Originating from a farmhouse built c.1818, it was extended and altered c.1845. Much of the early fabric relating to the c.1818 construction survives, illustrated by the thickness of the walls and height of the ceilings and overlaid with later detailing, principally to the exterior. The incorporation of the older farmhouse in the grander Victorian scheme is of interest, demonstrating the historic development of the house. The house represents the growing commercial success of Bangor from the early 19th century and the increasing wealth of its inhabitants.