37 Belfast Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

An attached two-storey two-bay early-Victorian mid-terrace house with attic, set back from Belfast Road, Holywood. No 37 comprises the central unit of a terrace of three; it is rectangular on plan with lower two-storey rear return, further extended by an outbuilding to rear.

Pitched natural slate roof with angled clay ridge tiles; two cement rendered chimneystacks with moulded cap and five terracotta pots shared with buildings on either side (HB23/17/002A and C), and one to return. Gutters are ogee cast iron on moulded eaves to front, half-round to rear. Modern rooflights to rear pitch. Walling is painted ruled-and-lined cement rendered over a slightly projecting plinth, with crenellated geometric frieze; there is a moulded string course to window head level at ground floor, and at first floor rising over window heads. Windows are generally uPVC casements, unless otherwise stated; those to ground floor have stop-end chamfered reveals with fluted keyblock detailing, moulding detail to jambs and painted masonry cills. Door is original timber four-panelled with bolection moulding and beaded muntin; plain glazed transom over (original glazing); stone threshold accessed by a stone step. Surround consists of panelled pilasters on plinth blocks topped by scrolled foliated console brackets supporting a masonry canopy.

Principal elevation faces NW and has three evenly spaced openings to each floor, with door set to left side.

Left NE gable is abutted by adjoining house (HB23/17/002A)

Rear SE elevation opens onto a rear yard enclosed by a tall crenellated rendered yard wall and is abutted by the return, which is further extended by an outbuilding. Limited view.

Right SW gable is abutted by adjoining house (HB23/017/002C)

Setting

The house is set back and facing away from the Belfast Road, largely concealed from view by two two-storey nineteenth century houses (of no interest). The rear yard is enclosed by a tall rendered wall with timber sheeted door set into a round-headed niche, and accessed from a narrow alley between the terrace and the houses to south. A gravel forecourt leads to extensive former garden on a lower level to north, now completely overgrown and inaccessible.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: Cement render
Windows: uPVC
RWG: Cast iron

Historical information

This group first appears on the second edition OS map of 1858 captioned ‘Bellevue Terrace’ and comprises three dwellings overlooking the sea, the plot including a long strip of ground stretching down to the railway line. Behind the terrace are two further houses which appear to be contemporary with the terrace but are not part of the current listing. Merrick dates these houses to the mid-1840’s and states that this was the earliest terrace to appear on the Belfast Road. Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64) lists the terrace as three houses all leased from Robert Shaw and notes that the accompanying ‘pasture’ is leased by Shaw from John Harrison. In 1911 it is noted that the gardens are only partly fenced off, part being still in grass. (Merrick, p.72)

According to Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64), the current house is occupied by Robert McGee and valued at £26. Dimensions are given for a house and two returns. An accompanying plan sketch of the group shows that there has been little significant alteration or addition since this time.

The valuation is reduced to £17 in 1886. The next tenants are Henry Ferguson (1880),William Shaw (1887), Susanna Shaw (1890), Arthur W H Tripp (1900), Richard Carroll (1903), Thomas R Briggs (1910), Anna Boyle (1927) and Katherine Wallace in 1929. Following a complaint in 1911 valuer’s notes give a plan and dimensions for this house. The accommodation comprises five bedrooms, two small attics and a boxroom, one dressing room and three reception rooms. The rent is £32 a year.

The owner of a neighbouring property suggests that this and the adjoining terrace (No.35) were once in use as a private school, but no evidence has been found to support this.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/3/1/2 – Second Edition OS map 1858
2. PRONI OS/6/3/1/3 – Third Edition OS Map 1900-02
3. PRONI OS/6/3/1/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1919-31
4. PRONI OS/6/3/1/5 – Fifth Edition OS Map 1938-41
5. PRONI VAL/2/B/3/1 – Griffith’s Valuation Map (1856-64)
6. PRONI VAL/2/B/3/18B – Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64)
7. PRONI VAL/12/A/3/21 – Valuer’s Notes (1911-17)
8. PRONI VAL/12/B/17/10A-G – Annual Revisions (1867-1930)
9. PRONI VAL/12/B/17/11A-C – Annual Revisions (1888-1930)

Secondary Sources

1. Merrick, Tony “Buildings of Holywood” Holywood: Holywood Advertiser, 1986
2. Information from neighbouring owner.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A two-storey + attic two-bay early Victorian mid-terrace house, located to the west side of Holywood. The house is one of a group of three identical dwellings, set with their backs to and some distance from the Belfast Road. The group is characterised by good proportions, restrained ornamentation and retains a substantial proportion of original fabric. It is of historical interest, having been among the first dwellings to be built in this part of Holywood, and representing the early spread of the town.

General comments

Please note this record has been renumbered from HB23/17/002