4 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 on drive-in brackets. Walling is Flemish bonded red-brick to main elevation, rear return is ruled-and-lined painted render. 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 four 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.

The north elevation is abutted by adjoining building (HB23/20/058C)

The east (rear) elevation has single opening to ground and first floor to either side of three-storey return. Exposed section of return with two openings to all floors; gable with single opening to left on upper floors and uPVC double doors to ground floor.

The south gable has, to left; single opening to first and second floor; to right, single opening to second floor.

Setting

Set in mature grounds to the north of Victoria Road on the outskirts of Holywood. Double tarmacadam 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: tomber
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. 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’. The current house and its neighbour are initially ‘in progress’ and the valuer notes ‘foundation sunk only’ but 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.

By 1863, the current house is occupied by Martin Jaffe . By 1874, the occupier is John Conlon and in 1883 the valuation is reduced to £40. The group is renamed ‘Martello Terrace’ in 1887. A succession of occupiers follow: Henry M Charley (1887) John McCullagh (1892), and A B Wilson in 1899, when it is noted that the garden has been enlarged. Annie S Neill is occupier in 1901. In 1916, the occupier Mrs Mulligan complains that the valuation is too high and it is reduced to £31. Valuer’s notes of that year give a plan and dimensions. William McMullan was in residence in 1922 and became the immediate lessor the same year. Following the addition of a motor-shed and office the valuation is increased to £38.10s.

Martin Jaffe was the son of Daniel Joseph Jaffe, founder of the Jewish synagogue in Belfast in 1871, and brother of Otto Jaffe who was later to become Lord Mayor of Belfast. Martin ran the Belfast branch of his father’s business and the first Jewish service to be held in Ulster in the nineteenth century took place in 1864 in Martin Jaffe’s Holywood home. Martin Jaffe moved into another house in Tudor Park (HB23/20/017A) sometime between 1863 and 1867 so it is very likely that either the current house or the house in Tudor Park was the venue for this service. (Keogh, p.8)

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)

Secondary Sources

1. Keogh, D “Jews in Twentieth Century Ireland: Refugees, Anti-Semitism and the Holocaust” Cork University Press, 1998
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.