1 Clanbrassil Terrace

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A large three-bay three-storey-over-basement terraced house, built c.1860, located on the south shores of Belfast Lough to the east of Holywood. Rectangular on plan.

Pitched natural slate roof; brick chimney with moulded rendered plinth, multiple flues and terracotta pots. Cast-iron ogee rainwater goods on sandstone dentilled eaves. Walling is ruled- and-lined render over sandstone. Windows are replacement 2/2 horizontal timber-framed sliding sash with horns (1/2 to second floor) in moulded reveals (reveals to principal elevation in deep relief); continuous sill to ground and first floor, projecting sill to basement and top floor. Sandstone surrounds (rendered to south) with keyblock (no keyblock detail to basement windows).

The principal elevation faces north; central three-quarter glazed timber door with transom light accessed by fourteen stone steps; final five steps contained within rendered masonry wall and piers, topped by cast-iron railings. To right; canted bay with four openings, extending from basement to first floor. Second floor is five openings wide. To left of bay there are three openings on ground and first floor. Basement has two 2/2 sash windows to left and timber door under steps. Smooth rendered plat-band between ground and first floor.

The east elevation is abutted by adjoining building, HB 23/18/26B.

The rear elevation is used as the main entrance. It is symmetrically arranged with three openings to each floor (there is a small oculus between the central and left window on the second floor). Central projecting porch at ground floor; porch accessed by four sandstone steps with squared and diamond terracotta tiles to top step; four-panelled timber door with bolection moulded-and-raised panels; transom light. Door set into moulded surround with keyblock and moulded stringcourse at springing level; moulded cornice and dentilled eaves. Porch topped by two terracotta urns on plinths. Steps down to basement to left through cast-iron gate and railings; top step with squared and diamond tiles. Basement to west has diminutive 1/1 timber-framed sash window to left and timber half-panelled timber door to right. To east wall (under porch) there is a diminutive window with projecting sill. To east; basement has 2/2 sliding sash window and to west wall (under porch) a diminutive window.

The west elevation is abutted by adjoining modern building.

Setting

The terrace has a large lawn to the north, separated from the beach to north and west by a rubble stone wall and steel three-bar railing; to the east a fence and hedgerow separates the terrace from a neighbouring property. Access to the rear through curved entrance walls; round rendered stone piers with projecting pointed caps on corbels. Bound to road to south by rubble stone wall with brick and stone coping.

Roof: Natural Slate
Walling: render
Windows: timber
RWG: Cast-iron

Historical information

The terrace is not shown on the second edition OS map of 1858 but is listed in Annual Revisions of 1870 as ‘Clanbrassil Terrace’, ‘Clanbrassil’ being taken from Henry Hamilton, Earl of Clanbrassil, a local proprietor. The terrace consists of four houses, all vacant, the immediate lessor being James Connor and are each described as a house, yard and pleasure ground with buildings valued at £50. In 1877 this valuation is dropped to £42, perhaps as the result of an appeal. The valuation fieldbook notes in 1885 that the first house in the terrace, adjoining number 1, is in ruins and has burnt down. In 1887 the current house falls in value to £35 perhaps as a result of this. (Auld, p.30)

According to Auld, entrepreneurs George McAuliffe and James Connor commissioned cartographer J Phillips to draw “a pictorial map of houses and building sites to be let along the coast shortly after the arrival of the Belfast and Bangor Railway Company at Marino and Cultra stations. Clanbrassil Terrace is depicted as having five houses. Those at the ends are built at right angles to the central block. The house at the west end was destroyed by fire in 1878. The proposed house at the east end was not completed, protruding building stones indicat[ing] the intended additional residence”. Auld gives a sketch of the terrace as it was intended to look (Auld, p.29)

The developers reserved a site for site for stables and outbuildings nearby. “A double banked earth terrace rose from the sea bordered lawns to conceal the basement windows. Tennis courts and a pitch and putt course spread before the entrance front. A driveway was designed to surround the completed terrace.” The reception room ceilings “display the expert work of stuccoer William Hayes of Marino. Although built in 1867, the bathrooms’ equipment boasted showers, bidets and every toilet facility of the twenty first century. The basement floors provided full culinary capacity with wine cellars and housekeepers rooms”. (Auld, p.29)

By 1892 the occupier is William N Pratt. There are many changes of occupier in subsequent years, indicating that the house is let. The valuation of the house falls to £25 in 1910 but John Morrow, of Ulster Tarpaulins, Cromac Square, who occupies the house in 1922 adds a motorhouse and greenhouse which raises the valuation to £28 in 1923.(Auld, p.29)

The terrace first appears captioned ‘Princess Gardens’ on the third edition OS map of 1900-2 but after 1933 the name is changed to Clanbrassil Terrace. On the OS map of 1938-41, the terrace is captioned ‘Clanbrassil Terrace’.

In the 1930s the current house is occupied by Elizabeth Morrow and leased from Sir Robert J Kennedy. It is valued at £28 and later raised to £39. The accommodation at this time comprises, two receptions/three bedrooms, bath and W.C/ three bedrooms, box, tank/kitchen, scullery, pantry W.C. It is supplied with gas and has a well with pump. There is a greenhouse and a garage by the gateway. The valuer comments, “Old fashioned, fronting close to sea. Looks suitable for seaside lodgings but no demand for such in area. Public footpath along side of garden at back.” A plan and dimensions are given showing a greenhouse at the rear and a separate motor house.

By 1949 this house had been converted into three flats which were then vacant and leased from Frederick J H Nelson. The two flats were valued at £44. The valuer notes, “Self-contained flat – numerous new walls of concrete. Basins (h&c) in bedrooms. Perspex and fabric on walls of bathroom. More in style of a ‘maisonette’ than a flat. Nice situation and outlook. (ground and first floors).”

In 1949 William M Lemon is listed as the occupier of the basement flat valued at £14. The valuer comments, “Hand pump for drinking water…Scullery-type house”. The kitchen has an old flagged floor, new sink, fitted cupboards and an electric cooker. Elsewhere there are cork floors.

In 1953 the basement flat is occupied by William Heathwood.

References:

Primary Sources

1.PRONI OS/6/3/1/3 – Third Edition OS Map 1900-02
2.PRONI OS/6/3/1/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1919-31
3.PRONI OS/6/3/1/5 – Fifth Edition OS Map 1938-41
4.PRONI VAL/12/B/17/10A-G – Annual Revisions (1867-1930)
5.PRONI VAL/12/B/17/11A-C – Annual Revisions (1888-1930)
6.PRONI VAL/12/E/93/1 – Annual Revisions Town Plan (c1919-c1935)
7.PRONI VAL/3/D/4/4/A/3 – Valuers RV Binders (1933-57)

Secondary Sources

1.Auld, C. ”Forgotten Houses of Holywood, Co Down” Holywood: Con Auld, 2003

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A three-bay three-storey-over-basement terraced house, built c.1860, situated on the south shores of Belfast lough. Its character and detailing demonstrate the style of large and prosperous residence of the type developed in the late Nineteenth century as the suburbs of Belfast expanded and the railway arrived. The house has been modernised in recent years resulting in a significant loss of interior detailing although the internal ground-plan has largely been retained. The modern end-terrace house at south may be said to complete that part of the original terrace but presently makes it asymmetrical. However, the house forms part of a distinctive terrace that, as a whole, is a good example of the type.

General comments

Please note this record has been renumbered, it was previously recorded as HB23/18/026