High Street Dental Practice

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A symmetrical three-bay two-storey-with-attic terraced house, now Dental Practice, built c.1830 and located on the east side of High Street in Holywood town centre. Square on plan with single-storey box bays to front and single-storey return to rear. Alterations to southwest incorporating a section of this building into the adjoining one (HB23/19/002A).

Pitched natural slate roof with blue/black angled ridge tiles and raised stone verges. Rendered chimneystacks with tall terracotta pots. Cast-iron ogee rainwater goods on projecting eaves. Walling is painted smooth rendered. Windows are 1/1 timber-framed sash in moulded surrounds with masonry sills; two dormer windows with diminutive 2/2 windows to attic; box bays to ground floor have paired windows and panelled pilasters, surmounted by plain architrave and dentilled cornice.

The principal elevation faces northwest and is three openings wide. To centre at ground floor is a double-leaf six-panelled timber door with brass lion-head knocker and transom light; flanked by pilasters with entasis on plinths and surmounted by plain architrave and dentilled cornice. Abutted at far right by a projecting bay now incorporated into the adjoining building; HB23/19/002A.

The northeast elevation is partially abutted to north corner by the adjoining building; the elevation is concealed.

The southeast (rear) elevation has irregular fenestration; replacement uPVC window to left at first floor, uPVC door to fire-escape at first floor right. To centre is a 3/3 window under the eaves at attic level and a 1/1 window to first floor; ground floor has replacement windows at right and left and a modern timber door to right of centre. Abutted at far left by a two-storey lean-to return (now incorporated into the adjoining building; HB23/19/002A) and the single-storey return. Return has two timber-sheeted doors and a casement window to northeast elevation; recessed at far right is a modern timber and glazed door.

The southwest elevation is abutted by adjoining building; HB23/19/002A.

Setting

Set back from the street and the terrace with tarmacadam car-park to front. Gravelled yard to rear enclosed by roughcast rendered wall.

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

Historical information

No. 116 High Street first appears on the first edition Ordnance Survey map for the (then) village of Holywood in 1834 where it was depicted as an oblong building, possessing a rear return, set back from the south side of High Street. Merrick states that No. 116 High Street was occupied by a Dr. Samuel McIllveen, a prominent member of the village in the 1830s, being a member of the local Parish Vestry which organised the municipal affairs of the community; the Ordnance Survey Memoirs (1834) state that Dr. McIllveen operated one of Holywood’s two Dispensaries (Ordnance Survey memoirs, Co. Down II, Vol. 7, p. 75).

There was little change to the layout of the house on the second edition of the Ordnance Survey map in 1858 however; Samuel McIllveen was not recorded on the contemporary Griffith’s Valuation of 1861. Without access to valuation records held by the Public Records Office it is difficult to compile an occupational history of No. 116 High Street with certainty, however in 1861 Griffith’s Valuation recorded that a Dr. Archibald D. Dunlop operated a Dispensary from premises in High Street. The valuer records that Dr. Dunlop resided in a house on High Street valued at £22 whilst the dispensary was valued at £4 and was likely situated in a separate property. Dr. Dunlop operated this dispensary until 1901 when his son [Sheldham] Dunlop took over operation of the business. The fifth edition of the Ordnance Survey map of 1931 records that the local Dispensary did not operate form No. 116 High Street at that time but occupied premises a few buildings to the north of the house.

Merrick records that No. 116 High changed hands by 1930 when a Mr. William Wilson came into possession of the house, temporarily renaming the house as ‘Grendor.’ The First Survey Record records that alterations, including the connection of part of No. 116 to the adjoining No. 118 High Street had been made before 1973. Field inspection finds that the original floor plan of the house has been altered to accommodate a dental practice which currently operates from the premises.

References

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/3/4/1 – First Edition Ordnance Survey map 1834
2. PRONI OS/6/3/4/2 – Second Edition Ordnance Survey map 1858
3. PRONI OS/6/3/4/3 – Third Edition Ordnance Survey map 1902
4. PRONI OS/6/3/4/4 – Fourth Edition Ordnance Survey map 1920-21
5. PRONI OS/6/3/4/5 – Fifth Edition Ordnance Survey map 1931
6. Ordnance Survey memoirs, Co. Down II, Vol. 7
7. Ulster Town’s Directory (1861)
8. Ordnance Survey Map 130-4 (1957-58)
9. First Survey Record - HB 23/20/079 (1973)

Secondary Sources

1. Merrick, T., ‘Buildings of Holywood’ Holywood: Holywood Advertiser, 1986.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A symmetrical three-bay two-storey-with-attic terraced house, now Dental Practice, built c.1830. The main elevation retains an early appearance but the floor-plan has been altered and the interior refurbished to accommodate a dental practice. Although of some local significance as one of the older buildings on the main street, its interest has been compromised by extensive interior alterations.

General comments

This record was completed without access to original source material held by the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland.