30 Shore Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

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

Pitched natural slate roof with rendered chimneystack and terracotta pots. Cast-iron half-round rainwater goods. Walling is painted smooth render. Windows are a variety timber-framed sliding sash with painted masonry projecting sills; first floor are 6/6 in moulded architrave surrounds; second floor with diminutive 3/3 timber-framed replacements 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 with brass door furniture and surmounted by transom light.

The south elevation is abutted by adjoining building (HB23/20/023B)

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

North elevation is abutted by adjoining building (HB23/20/023C)

Setting

The house is set back from the road with a small garden to front enclosed by masonry wall with saddleback coping stones. Rear garden with timber decking enclosed by rubble-stone wall, paved area to west enclosed by timber fence and masonry wall.

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. (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 Joseph Henderson and leased from John Jackson. It is a house, yard and small garden, buildings valued at £15.10s, later raised to £16. A succession of occupiers follow, Charles Mitchell (n.d.), then a period of vacancy when the valuation is reduced to £12 in 1886, Mary Munce (1887), Edward McCormick (1890), Wilson McIlroy (1900) who then becomes the immediate lessor and Mary E McIlroy in 1907. In 1902 the valuer reports that new bow windows have been added ‘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
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A three-storey two-bay Georgian 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. Change of use from dwelling to office and recording studio has resulted in significant 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