81 Victoria Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A symmetrical two-storey three-bay Victorian former Manse, built c.1850 and located to the south side of Victoria Road, Holywood. Rectangular on plan with adjoining rectangular addition set parallel to main block; projecting porch to front, canted bay to west; two-storey gabled return and single-storey flat roof extension to rear.

Pitched natural slate roof with terracotta ridge tiles; rendered chimneystacks having tall clay pots. Cast-iron ogee rainwater goods on corbelled eaves. Walling is ruled-and-lined painted render with plinth. Windows are mainly 1/1 timber-framed sliding sash; moulded surrounds to first floor; projecting masonry sills and label moulds to ground floor.

The principal elevation faces north and is three openings wide. To centre at ground floor is single-storey square porch accessed by two rounded steps; corner pilasters, cornice and blocking course; window to each cheek; four-panelled timber door with transom light in moulded architrave.

The east elevation comprises two gables; that of main block at left and that of rear addition at right. The former has two windows to first floor, a single window to ground floor right and a small single-storey abutment to ground floor left. The latter has a window to first floor and an enlarged plate glass encasement to ground floor.

The rear elevation is almost completely abutted by the rear addition; which is in turn abutted by a perpendicular two-storey return. Return with window to first floor of gable and modern glazed timber door to ground floor; west elevation has 1/1 window to first floor and replacement timber-framed window to ground floor; east elevation is abutted by single-storey extension with modern timber door to left and modern timber-framed window to right. South elevation of the addition has two windows to left at first floor, ground floor has 2/2 windows with sidelights to left; west elevation has multi-paned window with sidelights to ground floor, replacement window to first floor; east elevation with window to first floor and replacement window to ground floor.

The west elevation has canted bay with 2/2 windows and slate roof to ground floor; single window to first floor.

Setting

Situated on mature site backing onto Glenlyon Park; set back from the road to north with gravelled driveway accessed via painted masonry square gate piers having pointed caps and cast-iron gate. Rear yard contains former stable-block with painted masonry walls and slated roof; two large openings and a central doorway all with replacement timber-sheeted doors. Yard is enclosed by high masonry wall (round pier to left of stable block), accessed via large timber gates.

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

Historical information

The house first appears on the second edition OS map of 1858 captioned, 'Glenside', and on later historical map editions is captioned 'Glenside Manse'. A nineteenth-century street directory states that Glenside was the first house to be built in High Holywood, an area that was to become increasingly popular with the mercantile and professional classes following the opening of the railway in 1848. “[Glenside] was built by the late Rev. Henry Henderson, in 1849, but now the whole of that greatly admired district is covered with detached mansions, terraces and plantings.” (Belfast and Ulster Directory, 1880) Kelly’s 1850 History of Holywood advised promenaders to, “direct their steps on some fine summer day to the Ballykeel Road and the Holywood Hills. Soon the Glen yields a variety of subjects, which may not be exhausted in one nor in many hours of attentive observation. A few perches brings us opposite the beautiful little cottage, “Glenside”, the residence of Rev Henry Henderson”. The Rev Henderson is known to have been living in the house in 1852 but by 1861 he had moved to Thornbank Manse to the south of the present building. (Belfast Newsletter; Auld, p.62)

Rev Henry Henderson was ordained as minister of Holywood First Presbyterian Church in 1844 and appears to have built Glenside shortly afterwards. He was, on behalf of the church, a considerable landowner and property developer in the area and, having built Glenside, had moved to another manse by 1861. Henderson wrote a weekly article for the Belfast Weekly News, the proprietor of which was his nephew, James Alexander Henderson, under the pseudonym ‘Ulster-Scot’. (Auld, p.121)

Following Rev Henderson’s removal the house was let to a number of tenants, some of whom are referred to in the pages of the Belfast Newsletter . On 7th September 1858 the paper refers to a visit to the house by Brigadier-General TH Franks CB, the district Indian Officer and Sir D Norreys MP who had ‘been on a visit with the general’s brother, Mr Franks RM [Resident Magistrate] at Glenside, Holywood’ (Belfast Newsletter) In 1860 the house, ‘now occupied by Captain Robinson, Poor-Law Inspector, who removes to Dublin’ was advertised to let. ‘This commodious House stands on an Acre of ground, laid out in Gardens &c.; and there is Cow-house, Coach-house and stabling for four Horses.’ (Belfast Newsletter)

In Griffith’s Valuation (1861) the house, offices, yard and just over one acre, is listed as the residence of William Langtry Bell with buildings valued at £36. William Langtry Bell was a merchant, town councillor for Belfast and member of the committee of the White Linen Hall. (Belfast Newsletter; Belfast and Ulster Directory)

In May 1862, Rev Henderson was again living at Glenside and appears to have been resident at the house at least until 1877. (Belfast Newsletter) According to Auld, Henry Henderson sold the house to the Kirk session for £600 in 1878 shortly before his death in 1879. Auld states that the house remained the property of the church until 1996 when it was sold and part of the orchard used to build a new manse. The house is captioned ‘Glenside Manse’ on the third edition OS map of 1900-02 and remains so captioned throughout the historic map editions. Today, the house is in use as a private residence. (Auld, p.62)

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. Griffith’s Valuation online
6. Belfast and Ulster Street Directory, 1861
7. Belfast and Ulster Street Directory, 1880
8. Belfast Newsletter, 13th February 1852
9. Belfast Newsletter, 7th September, 1858
10. Belfast Newsletter, 2nd April, 1860
11. Belfast Newsletter, 15th May, 1862
12. Belfast Newsletter, 1st February, 1866
13. Belfast Newsletter, 27th March, 1877

Secondary Sources

1. Auld, C.”Forgotten Houses of Holywood, Co Down” Holywood: Con Auld, 2002

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A two-storey three-bay Victorian former Manse, symmetrically arranged and built c.1850. Although largely original and retaining many original features, it is not among the best examples of the type.

General comments

This record was completed without access to primary source material held by the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland.