The Cottage

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A one-and-a-half-storey three-bay Gothic Revival house with attic, originating in the early eighteenth century but extensively remodelled c.1875 located on the west side of Glen Road, Holywood. Rectangular-on-plan with gabled porch, dormers and modern conservatory extension to south gable.

Roof is pitched natural slate with ridge cresting and stucco chimneystacks with moulded caps and terracotta pots. Gutters are ornate toothed cast-iron with square-section downpipes. All gables have ornate filigree finials and moulded timber bargeboards. Walling is painted ruled-and-lined stucco with quoins and plinth. Windows are double-side-hung timber casements with lattice glazing set in moulded stucco architrave surrounds with scrolled keyblock detail. Dormers are timber-sheeted to apexes. Door is woodgrained timber with two pointed arched bolection moulded panels, beaded muntin, kickboard and brass door furniture; obscurely paned glass to pointed arched transom light, all set within a moulded stucco surround with moulding at impost level, panelled jambs with stop-end chamfered corners; threshold is stone.

Principal elevation faces east; porch breaks eaves and is offset to right of centre; above the door, lighting attic, is a narrow lattice-paned lancet in plain reveal. There are two windows to left of porch and one to right; three dormers.

South gable is abutted by the conservatory extension and has two Gothic-arched casement windows lighting attic.

Rear elevation could not be inspected (see surveyor’s comments), but was noted to be abutted by a return and lean-to kitchen extension.

North gable has a canted bay to ground floor with rolled lead ridges and profiled slates. Continuous cill to traditional three of 1/1 timber sash windows without horns. Two attic casements as south.

Setting

The house is set parallel to the roadside behind a paved perimeter path and clipped hedge boundary. Pedestrian access is located on axis with porch via a steel gate. There are gardens to rear and to north.

Roof: natural slate
Walling: Stucco
Windows: Timber
RWG: cast-iron

Historical information

This is a one and a half storey dwelling, apparently used initially as a bathing lodge, with significant remodelling taking place c1875.

There is a structure on the site from the first edition OS map of 1834. However, the current house appears to be a rebuild or remodelling of this early dwelling. It is listed in the Townland Valuation (1828-40) as a house and offices belonging to Thomas Woodside and valued at £10.13s.

In Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64) it is simply a house, listed as unoccupied and leased from Thomas Woodside. The house is initially valued at £6 and this is later raised to £9. The valuer notes, ‘Bathing Lodge – fine view of the lough...Low stories...Very plain building and finish but neatly kept...Undergoing repairs.’

Annual Revisions see the lessor altered to John Woodside and then after a number of changes to William A Ross, but the house is vacant until 1878 when Van Brabant takes over. The same year the valuation increases substantially to £25 and ‘offices’ are added to the description, indicating a possible date for the gothic style remodelling of the property. A number of occupiers ensue; Sarah Tolmi(1880), James N Hamilton (1887), H Wise (1890), J O Rogers (1897), Audley J McKissack (1903) (the 1901 Belfast and Ulster Street Directory lists McKissack as a solicitor), B W Walpole (1908), John Lemon (1911), John Henderson (1923). A motor house is added to the description in 1923 and the valuation is consequently raised to £30.

By 1933 the house is named ‘The Cottage’ and is occupied by Eileen Ross, later amended to Matthew S Mayne and John Lemon. It is leased from Wm A Ross then is held in fee by John Lemon. It is a house, offices and garden (motor house and yard deleted) valued at £30 then amended to £50. It comprises 3 receptions, a kitchen, scullery, pantry, 5 bedrooms, bathroom, WC and linen press. The valuer comments, ‘Old fashioned – painted outside – dormer windows. Sloping ceilings. Gas. Water from well with pump. Not in good condition. Crawling with moths. John Lemon, Edgecombe House, Bangor Road, let temporarily for 3 months to Captain Matthew Mayne”. A plan and dimensions are given showing a conservatory to the southern facade, a bay to the north and a porch to the front. A glasshouse and yard are shown to the rear.

In 1935 John Lemon appealed against the valuation because ‘the house is lacking in modern equipment and a very substantial sum is required each year for wages of man to pump water to house. Water supply very deficient.’ Valuer comments, ‘The occupier at present is Commander Weekes who holds under a furnished tenancy. Very old internally – dark corners and passages. But electricity put in 6 months ago and there is a “main” water supply from Sir Robert Kennedy’s reservoir. This latter is a great asset here.’

References:

Primary Sources

1.PRONI OS/6/3/1/1 – First Edition OS Map 1834
2.PRONI OS/6/3/1/2 – Second Edition OS map 1858
3.PRONI OS/6/3/1/3 – Third Edition OS Map 1900-02
4.PRONI OS/6/3/1/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1919-31
5.PRONI OS/6/3/1/5 – Fifth Edition OS Map 1938-41
6.PRONI VAL/1/A/3/1 – Townland Valuation Map (1828-40)
7.PRONI VAL/1/B/318 – Townland Valuation (1828-40)
8.PRONI VAL/2/B/3/1 – Griffith’s Valuation Map (1856-64)
9.PRONI VAL/2/B/3/18B – Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64)
10.PRONI VAL/12/B/17/10A-G – Annual Revisions (1867-1930)
11.PRONI VAL/12/B/17/11A-C – Annual Revisions (1888-1930)
12.PRONI VAL/3/D/4/4A/1 – Valuer’s RV Binder (1933-57)

Secondary Sources

1.Belfast and Province of Ulster Street Directory, 1910
2.Brett, C.E.B. “Buildings of North County Down” Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 2002

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

The Cottage is a one-and-a-half storey three-bay Gothic Revival house, built c.1875, possibly incorporating part of an earlier building (as indicated by the historic maps). It displays embellishments, such as the ridge cresting and filigree finials, and unusual ornate gutters, that are of note. The proportions are enlivened by the detailing, gables and dormers, all appropriate to the style. It is a good example of the type of picturesque cottage popular in the later 19th century.