20 Shore Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A three-storey two-bay Georgian terrace townhouse, built c.1830 and located to the west of Shore Road in the centre of Holywood. Rectangular on plan with two-storey return to rear. One of a terrace of four.

Pitched natural slate roof with rendered chimneystack. Walling is painted smooth render with shallow rustication to ground floor. Windows are 6/6 timber-framed sliding sash with painted masonry projecting sills and moulded surround (to first floor only); second floor with diminutive 3/3 timber-framed sliding sash; those to rear return are timber replacements. Cast-iron half round rainwater goods on drive-in brackets.

The principal elevation faces east and is two openings wide. Entrance door to left comprises replacement timber door with plain fanlight, accessed by tiled step.

South elevation is abutted by adjoining building.

West (rear) elevation has two window openings to second floor and is abutted at first floor by gabled return. Exposed section of return with two openings to each floor; gable with single opening at first floor. (No access to rear of property; ground floor concealed).

North elevation is abutted by adjoining building; HB23/20/022B.

Setting:
The house is set back from the road with a paved garden to front; painted masonry wall with gate pier to north. Rear garden is enclosed with masonry wall and hedgerow.

Roof: Pitched natural slate
Walling: Smooth render
Windows: Timber sliding sash
RWG: Cast-iron

Historical information

Shore Road, or Shore Street, as it was previously known, was one of the original Holywood thoroughfares, growing up during the early seventeenth century and consisting largely of thatched cabins until redevelopment began at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Professional and mercantile classes made their homes here as Holywood began to attract an expanding population wishing to leave the dirt and clamour of Belfast behind. Shore Street was a genteel residential area with commerce mainly confined to the upper part of the road near the maypole. This terrace dates from c.1830 and is shown on the first edition OS map of 1834. (Merrick, p.32-34)

The terrace is listed in the Townland Valuation of 1834 as four houses and offices all valued at £10 and owned by Dr Brison [sic]. At this time, many of the houses in Holywood are listed by landlord rather than occupier. Dr Brison is probably Samuel Bryson (1776-1853) who was an apothecary of High Street, Belfast and lived in Ballymacarrett where Bryson Street was later named after him. (There is no connection between Samuel Bryson and Bryson House in Belfast.) (Blaney, p.47-9)

Bryson, the son of a Presbyterian minister, was a collector and translator of manuscripts in the Irish language and in 1805 published ‘Remains of the Irish Bards’. He is remembered as a talented scribe and scholar of Irish who promoted the study of Irish language and literature, his collection now being housed in the Belfast Public Library. He was born and is buried in Holywood. (Blaney, p.47-9)

Griffith’s Valuation (1828-40) lists four houses of almost identical dimensions (there is a slight variation in the returns).

This house was occupied by Jane Sinclair and leased from Olivia Bryson. It is a house, yard and small garden with buildings valued at £17, later raised to £18. Rent is £22. Samuel Bryson, linen merchant of Woodbank, becomes the lessor in 1884 and the valuation is lowered to £16. A succession of occupiers follow, Sarah Mulligan (n.d), who according to Merrick ran a private school on the premises, Margaret Allen (1890), John Woodside M.D (1892), William Stewart Steele (1905), Matthew Gibson (1912), Anna Hawthorne (1916) and Letitia McKelvey (1919). Mary Bryson, widow of Samuel, becomes immediate lessor in 1924. (Merrick, p.32)

The building has remained in use as a domestic dwelling.

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/B/318 – Townland Valuation (1828-40)
7. PRONI VAL/2/B/3/18A – Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64)
8. PRONI VAL/12/B/17/10A-G – Annual Revisions (1867-1930)
9. PRONI VAL/12/E/123/1/1-6 – Annual Revisions Town Plan (c1860-c1866)
10. PRONI VAL/12/E/123/2/1-6 – Annual Revisions Town Plan (c1867-1900)
11. PRONI Will of Samuel Bryson, died 22/10/1906

Secondary Sources

1. Merrick, Tony “Buildings of Holywood” Holywood: Holywood Advertiser, 1986
2. Blaney, R “Presbyterians and the Irish Language” Belfast, Ulster Historical Foundation, 1996

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 three-storey two-bay end-terrace Georgian townhouseforming part of a terrace of four. Architectural detailing to the main elevation is largely intact, although the timber door and fanlight have been replaced. As part of an early terrace, No 20 has group value and it is probable that the interior retains its floor plan and historic fabric. The terrace illustrates the development of Holywood during the early 19th century as it grew in popularity as a resort and commuter town.

General comments

Please note this record has been renumbered, it was previous recorded as HB23/20/022