3 Martello Terrace

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A large two-storey-with-attic three-bay Victorian red-brick mid-terrace house, built c.1860 and located to the north of Victoria Road near Holywood town centre. Rectangular on plan with substantial three-storey rear return and canted bays to front.

Pitched natural slate roof with rectangular brick chimneystacks having masonry plinth and terracotta pots. Cast-iron half-round rainwater goods. Walling is Flemish bonded red-brick, rear return with ruled-and-lined painted render to gable. Canted bays and entrance bay to first floor is painted stone. Windows are 2/2 timber-framed sliding sash with horizontal glazing bars, flat brick lintels and continuous sills to first floor on main elevation; pointed head dormer windows; 6/6 sliding sash to rear return (unless otherwise stated).

The principal elevation faces west and is symmetrically arranged: four openings wide to first floor with slightly projecting entrance bay. Canted bays at ground floor with triple window openings, dog-tooth frieze and dentilled eaves. Central entrance comprises portico two Doric columns deep, surmounted by entablature with dog-tooth detail to frieze, dentilled moulded cornice and pediment. Above this to first floor is a round-headed window with Doric pilasters, decorative console brackets and keyblock under moulded cornice. Entrance accessed by three stone steps; comprising door with four bolection-moulded raised-and-pointed panels and brass door furniture: side lights and transom light framed by simple Doric pilasters.

North elevation is abutted by adjoining building (HB23/20/058B)

East (rear) elevation is abutted by three-storey rear return. Single opening to ground and first floor (replacement window to south). Exposed section of return to north comprises three window openings to upper floors: to south; two windows to upper floors, to ground floor; replacement timber window and simple timber door (x3).

South elevation is abutted by adjoining building (HB23/20/058D)

Setting

Set in mature grounds to the north of Victoria Road on the outskirts of Holywood. Double tarmacadamed entrance with painted masonry gate piers. Large mature garden to front with mature trees and hedgerow; to rear is Martello Tower (HB23/20/059) and mature garden with garages and timber fence.

Roof: natural slate
Walling: brick
Windows: timber
RWG: Cast-iron

Historical information

This terrace dates from c.1860 and is shown on the third edition OS map of 1900-02. Victoria Road began to be developed during this period to provide homes for merchants and professional people who were attracted by the opening of the railway in 1848, affording easy access to Belfast. This mercantile and professional class was experiencing increasing prosperity and sought healthier and more attractive surroundings than were available in the centre.. The terrace was built beside a disused windmill that has, at times, been referred to as a ‘Martello Tower’, perhaps having performed that function during the Napoleonic wars. The windmill was in use until the 1840’s. (Merrick, p.5, 55)

The terrace is listed in Griffith’s Valuation fieldbook where it is named ‘Martello Crescent’. Numbers one and two in the terrace have already been built and let but the current house and its neighbour are initially ‘in progress’ and the valuer notes ‘foundation sunk only’. This is deleted by Dec 1861 when the valuer notes of the pair, ‘said to be letting now for £50 and that there are ten rooms in them’. They are both valued at £49 and dimensions are given.

The current house is occupied by James McIntyre in 1863 and is valued at £49. In 1874 the house was taken over by Robert Lloyd Patterson, and the valuation is reduced to £40 in 1883. The group is renamed ‘Martello Terrace’ in 1887. A succession of occupants follow: Alexander Wilson (1880), John Hodge (1907) and Mary Robinson in 1920. William Robinson is the immediate lessor in 1923.

Sir Robert Lloyd Patterson (1836-1906) was an amateur naturalist, art collector and linen manufacturer. The son of Robert Patterson, naturalist and mill furnisher, he was also uncle to Robert Lloyd Praeger, another eminent naturalist. After a thirty year career in the linen industry Patterson retired in 1886 a wealthy man, subsequently taking an active part in the Belfast chamber of commerce. He was knighted for civic service in 1902. As a naturalist, he published a number of papers about seabirds and fishes and eventually a book, “The birds, fishes and cetacea of Belfast Lough” (1880). In 1888 he retired to Croft House, Holywood where he died in 1906. His valuable collection of Victorian paintings and artefacts is now held by the Ulster Museum. (Dictionary of Irish Biography, Belfast and Ulster Directory, 1877)

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/3/18A – Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64)
6. PRONI VAL/12/A/3/55 – Valuer’s Notebook (1912-22)
7. PRONI VAL/12/B/17/10A-G – Annual Revisions (1867-1930)
8. PRONI VAL/12/E/123/1/1-6 – Annual Revisions Town Plan (c1860-c1866)
9. PRONI VAL/12/E/123/2/1-6 – Annual Revisions Town Plan (c1867-1900)
10.Belfast and Province of Ulster Street Directory, 1877

Secondary Sources

1. McGuire, J and Quinn, J, eds “Dictionary of Irish Biography” Cambridge: Cambridge University Press and Royal Irish Academy, 2009
2. Merrick, Tony “Buildings of Holywood” Holywood: Holywood Advertiser, 1986

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A substantial three-storey three-bay Victorian red-brick mid-terrace house, built c.1860. Architectural detailing is largely intact and the fabric is of good quality. It is a substantial and good example of the type. The building has quality and character and forms part of a group that represents the expansion of Holywood after the coming of the railway.