St Helen's House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A large detached three-bay two-storey-over-basement Italianate stucco house, built c.1875 and converted into apartments c.1950; located to the north of High Street in Holywood town centre. Square on plan with single-storey canted bays to front and projecting bay with bow window to north.

Pitched natural slate roof. Cast-iron ogee rainwater goods on deep overhanging eaves with decorative timber brackets. Walling is painted smooth render/stucco with quoins over chamfered plinth; panelled frieze and moulded architrave beneath eaves. Windows are 1/1 timber framed sliding sash (some replacements) in moulded window surrounds with decorative console brackets and pediment, segmental to ground floor and triangular to first floor (unless otherwise stated).

The principal elevation faces east and is symmetrically arranged with three openings to each floor (no basement level to front); five diminutive windows under eaves (framed by eaves brackets). Single-storey canted bays with moulded window surrounds and keyblock detail to each opening; plain entablature with dentilled frieze and ovolo moulded cornice; balustraded parapets. Central portico has paired Ionic columns on shared plinth enclosed by fretted balustrades; semi-engaged Ionic responds to wall; plain entablature with dentilled frieze and ovolo moulded cornice surmounted by balustraded parapet. Mullioned windows with slender side lights to first floor (single opening to centre); ovolo moulded cornice on decorative console brackets with segmental-headed pediment. Door has four bolection-moulded raised-and-pointed panels; panelled side lights and transom light framed by simple pilasters.

The south elevation is three windows wide to first floor; central stairwell window is mullioned with side lights (as at main elevation) with stained lattice margin panels and corbels under sill. Two uPVC windows to left at ground floor; to left is masonry wall containing steps to basement; basement with two uPVC windows and uPVC door to right.

The west elevation is set on a slope; three asymmetrical diminutive windows to first floor; ground floor with replacement timber panelled door to right accessed by masonry steps; mullioned window with side lights to centre; diminutive replacement window to left; basement level has three uPVC window and modern timber door.

The north elevation has a full-height projecting bowed-bay to right and two window openings to left; to right is projecting bay with three windows to bow window having segmental-headed pediment to central openings. Basement windows are uPVC in plain surrounds. Gabled wall-head dormer at attic to left.

Setting

Prominently located to the north of High Street in Holywood town centre. Bounded to road to north by cement rendered masonry wall with saddleback coping stones. Tarmacadam car-parking to all sides. Modern residential home to north accessed via driveway.

Roof: Natural Slate
Walling: render
Windows: timber and uPVC
RWG: Cast iron

Historical information

The house is noted as being ‘in progress’ in 1875 and is finished in 1876 when it is valued at £72 with £4 for grounds. The occupier is Archibald D Dunlop. A lease dated 11th April 1872, in which Dunlop leases the land from John Harrison, shows as a condition of the lease that Dunlop ‘shall within seven years to be computed from the first day of November one thousand eight hundred and seventy one lay out and expend the sum of seven hundred pounds at the least in building a Dwelling House and suitable yard and out offices...and shall not permit any small Dwelling house or houses to be built...”

The valuation of the house, which became known as ‘St Helen’s’ was reduced to £64 in 1884. In 1899 a glass house was added to the property which added £2 to the valuation. This structure is shown on the 1898 valuation town plan abutting the south facade of the building. By the 1970’s this has been replaced by a modern, single-storey solid block, now gone.

Merrick states that St Helen’s was ‘probably the last classical style mansion to appear in the town’. (Merrick, p.31)

Dr Archibald Dunlop (1834-1902) from Derriaghy, was a Town Commissioner and a leading doctor in Holywood for forty-four years. His surgery was at 108 High Street. His obituary in the British Medical Journal stated that he had obtained his degree at Queen’s in 1857 and had then set up a large practice in Holywood, following a period as House-Surgeon in the Belfast General Hospital. He held many posts such as Medical Officer of the Dispensary District and was an active member of the NI branch of the BMA and of the Ulster Medical Society. He was also a governor of the Sullivan Schools and was active in the parish church as a member of the select vestry and a church warden. The journal comments that he was, “always ready to help younger men in their work both by shrewd advice and by kindly help. He was a well-known personality not only in Holywood where he was a senior Urban Councillor and Justice of the Peace but at all meetings, both lay and professional in Belfast and the district. His hearty manner, his pleasant humour, and good nature, his kindness, as well as the more sterling qualities of generosity uprightness and straightforwardness, all combined to make him one of the most popular members of the profession. He was exceedingly fond of flowers, and rose cultivation was one of his favourite hobbies. Dr Dunlop was twice married and leaves six children.” (Merrick, p.32; Auld, p.90; British Medical Journal)

Dr Dunlop is commemorated with a stained glass window of the Good Samaritan in the parish church and by the Dunlop Memorial home, designed by James Hanna, which was built by public subscription in 1903 on Church Road. (Auld, p.90)

Dunlop’s elder son, Captain George Malcolm Dunlop of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers was killed at the Dardanelles in 1915, the first of many soldiers from Holywood to be killed in the Great War. His mother unveiled the Holywood war memorial on 28 January 1922, on which the name of her son appears, at which time she appears to have still been living at St Helen’s. (Auld, p.90)

The house passed to James Harper Hunter in 1929 who bought it for £2000. After 1934 valuation records note that the house is now leased from the Baptist Union of Ireland (Northern Corporation Ltd) and there is a rise in valuation to £75. The accommodation is arranged on two main floors and there are eight principal rooms with two bathrooms. There is also an attic floor and semi-basement with kitchen and ‘ample’ offices. The attic has seven rooms, three with fair light. The valuer notes that the house has electric light and central heating. There is a service lift from the kitchen to the dining room door.

In 1940 it was noted that the premises had been requisitioned by the War Department who erected a garage and a store, bringing the valuation to £100 in total. In 1944 a coal store and a vegetable store have been added and nineteen Nissen huts have been erected in the garden. The Auxiliary Territorial Service or ATS, the women’s branch of the army, were in occupation. Auld states that the house was used as accommodation for military transport personnel, with a line of garages constructed in the front garden. (Auld, p.90)

In 1947 the house was sold to Ernest Reid for £4,000, and soon afterwards was converted into seven flats, all valued separately, and leased from Ernest Reid.

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/E/123/1/1-6 – Annual Revisions Town Plan (c1860-c1866)
6. PRONI VAL/12/E/123/2/1-6 – Annual Revisions Town Plan (c1867-1900)
7. PRONI VAL/12/E/123/4/1-4 – Annual Revisions Town Plan (1898-1916)
8. PRONI VAL/3/D/4/10/A/16 – Valuer’s RV Binder (1933-57)
9. British Medical Journal, November 22nd 1902, p.1683
10. Down Council Divisional Planning Office Refs: W/1980/0572, W/1985/0425, W/1987/0321, W/1987/0416
11. Lease from John Harrison to Archibald Dunlop , 11th April 1872 (obtained from resident)
12. Deed of Assignment, 27th August, 1947 (obtained from resident)

Secondary Sources

1. Auld, C. ”Forgotten Houses of Holywood, Co Down” Holywood: Con Auld, 2002
2. Merrick, Tony “Buildings of Holywood” Holywood: Holywood Advertiser, 1986

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest
Z. Rarity

Evaluation

A large detached three-bay two-storey-over-basement Italianate stucco house, built c.1875 and converted into apartments c.1950. The internal layout has been affected by the conversion into apartments and some of the historic detailing to the interior has been lost, although the impressive entrance hall and main stair survive. It is an interesting building of an idiosyncratic style with good quality detailing.