33 Shore Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A three-bay two-storey former house and post-office, built c.1820 and located to the north of Shore Road near Holywood town centre. Rectangular on plan with a single-storey return and 1-and-a-half storey return to rear.

Pitched natural slate roof with terracotta ridge tiles and rectangular rendered chimneystacks having terracotta pots. Cast-iron half-round rainwater goods on corbelled eaves. Walling is painted smooth render. Windows are a variety of multi-paned timber-framed sliding sash with painted masonry projecting sills.

The principal elevation faces west and is three window openings wide, with entrance door off-set slightly to left. Four-panelled bolection-moulded timber door having brass door furniture and transom light; Doric pilaster surround surmounted by plain entablature. Replacement timber-framed sliding sash window to right at ground-floor.

The north elevation is abutted by adjoining building.

The east (rear) elevation is asymmetrically arranged, with seven window openings; to left at ground floor is a round-headed 6/3 window; to centre at first floor is a diminutive window; the remainder are 6/6. To left is one-and-a-half storey return: exposed section with two sets of modern double-leaf doors to ground floor: to extreme left is simple timber door: there is a diminutive modern window to right of centre at first floor. To right of main block is a single-storey extension; exposed section having two modern windows to either side of modern timber door. Skylights to all roofs including main block.

Setting:

The house is set back slightly from the pavement with a small gravelled garden to front surrounded by painted masonry plinth wall topped by cast-iron railings and accessed by modern cast-iron gate. Paved courtyard to rear enclosed by timber fence.

Roof: slate
Walling: render
Windows: timber
RWG: Cast-iron

Historical information

The house dates from the early nineteenth century when Holywood was just beginning to develop as a bathing resort and commuter town and is shown on the first edition of 1834. It is listed in the Townland Valuation (1828-40) as the residence of Mr John McConnell, a house and offices valued at £14.

Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64) states that the building is a house, post office, yard and garden and is occupied by James Greenfield and leased from Henry J Higginson JP. The house is valued at £19, later raised to £21.10s and the rent is said to be £25 yearly plus taxes, the house being ‘taken’ in 1859. Dimensions are given for the main house, the bay to the south and two returns of two storeys each.

According to Merrick, from 1822 to 1859, the post office was at the house of the previous post master Hugh Stewart, despite his having relinquished the post sometime before James Greenfield took it up in 1842. Thom’s Irish Almanac of 1857 lists James Greenfield as the postmaster in Holywood, stating that mail from Dublin arrives at 7.20 am and is despatched at 6.10 pm. (Merrick, p.22)

Mr Greenfield remains in occupation until 1872 when the house reverts to a dwelling and is occupied by Mrs McCartney. The post office moved to 57 High Street at this time. The valuation is dropped to £16.10s the same year. In 1880 the house is the dwelling of William Dunwoody and in 1887 the valuation drops again to £13.10s. In succeeding years, the house is occupied by members of the Dunwoody family and they are also the immediate lessors from 1902. The building is currently in use as offices. (Merrick, p.22)

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. “Thom’s Irish Almanac” Dublin: Alexander Thom and Son, 1857

Secondary Sources

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

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
H-. Alterations detracting from building

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A three-bay two-storey former house and post-office; built c.1820. Although much of the interior detailing has been lost in the conversion into an office, the architectural detailing is largely intact and of good quality and character. The building sits opposite to early 19th century terraces (HB23/20/022A-D and HB23/20/023A-C) and is of interest as part of the older Holywood. As an early Post Office, it is of note an it is an increasingly rare example of small commercial premises from the early 19th century.