28 Shore Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A three-storey two-bay early Victorian terrace townhouse, built c.1840 and located to the west of Shore Road in the centre of Holywood. Rectangular on plan with two-storey return and single-storey flat-roof modern extension to rear.

Pitched natural slate roof with rendered chimneystack and terracotta pots. Cast-iron half-round rainwater goods. Walling is painted smooth render with moulded tablet bearing “Arch-Ville”. Windows are a variety timber-framed sliding sash with painted masonry projecting sills; first floor are 6/6 in moulded architrave surrounds; second floor are smaller 3/3 sash in plain reveals; canted bay windows are 1/1 with horns.

The principal elevation faces east and is two openings with canted bay to left at ground floor. Entrance door to right comprises six-panelled timber door in moulded surround with transom light; surmounted by decorative console brackets and ovolo moulded cornice (extending over canted bay).

The south elevation is abutted by adjoining building (HB23/20/022D)

The west (rear) elevation has asymmetrical openings to upper floors; abutted to left by two-storey return with replacement timber-framed window to gable; further abutted by single-storey brick flat-roof extension extending the length of the elevation.

The north elevation is abutted by adjoining building (HB23/20/023A)

Setting

The house is set back from the road with a small garden to front enclosed by painted masonry wall with saddleback coping stones and modern cast-iron railing, Rear gravelled garden with timber decking, enclosed to south by rubble-stone wall, to north by timber fence and to west by masonry wall with modern timber gate.

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

Historical information

Shore Road, or Shore Street, as it was previously named, 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. (Merrick, p.32)

According to Merrick, this terrace, bearing the name ‘Archville’ was built by John Jackson c.1840. It first appears on the second edition OS map of 1858 and is listed in Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64) as a terrace of three houses for which dimensions are given. (Merrick, p.34)

The present house is occupied by George Wood house and leased from John Jackson. It is a house yard and small garden, buildings valued at £14.10s, later raised to £15. A succession of occupiers follow, John Dowling (1864), then a period of vacancy when the valuation drops to £12 in 1886, Francis Todd (1887), John King (1890), George Gilpin (1902), Joseph Macauley (1908), Edward H Branagh (1909) and Elizabeth McKee (1915).

The immediate lessor becomes Wilson McIlroy in 1902 and then Mary E McIlroy in 1924. In 1902 the valuer reports that new bow windows have been added to the terrace ‘or rather old ones enlarged’ and the valuation is consequently raised to £12.10s. The building is now in use as offices.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/3/1/2 – Second Edition OS map 1858
2. PRONI OS/6/3/1/3 – Third Edition OS Map 1900-02
3. PRONI OS/6/3/1/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1919-31
4. PRONI OS/6/3/1/5 – Fifth Edition OS Map 1938-41
5. PRONI VAL/2/B/3/18B – Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64)
6. PRONI VAL/12/A/3/53 – Valuer’s Notebook (1900-1906)
7. PRONI VAL/12/A/3/54 – Valuer’s Notebook (1906-1912)
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)

Secondary Sources

1. Merrick, Tony “Buildings of Holywood” Holywood: Holywood Advertiser, 1986

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A three-storey two-bay early Victorian townhouse built c.1840 and forming part of a terrace of three in a longer run of terraced houses. Architectural detailing to the main elevation is largely intact. A change of use from dwelling to office has resulted in some loss of interior detailing, although the floor-plan remains largely intact. Part of a terrace, in the older part of the town, illustrating the development of Holywood in the early part of the 19th century; Shore Road was once the main thoroughfare in Holywood.

General comments

Please note this record has been renumbered it was previously recorded as HB23/20/023