26 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 smaller 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 surmounted by fanlight.

South elevation is abutted by adjoining building; HB23/20/022C.

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; HB23/20/023B.

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 hedge.

Roof: natural slate
Walling: render
Windows: Timber
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 Agnes Kennedy and leased from Olivia Bryson. It is a house, yard and small garden with buildings valued at £15.10s, later raised to £16. The rent is £20. Samuel Bryson, linen merchant of Woodbank, becomes the lessor in 1884 and the valuation is lowered to £14. A succession of tenants then follows: Hugh C Fisher (n.d.), Harriet Mulligan (1887), Sarah Ponton (1900), Harriet Ponton (1909), John Kyle Graham (1917). Mary Bryson, widow of Samuel, becomes immediate lessor in 1924.

The building continues in use as a domestic dwelling.

References:

Primary Sources

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
12.
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 townhouse, forming part of a terrace of four. Architectural detailing to the main elevation is largely intact, although the second floor windows are replacements. As part of an original terrace, No 26 has group value and contributes to the whole. 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