Walker Communications

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A two-bay three-storey early Victorian former Post Office, now office, built c. 1840 and located to the north of High Street in Holywood town centre. Rectangular on plan with single-storey return and substantial two-storey return to rear.

Pitched natural slate roof. Cast-iron ogee rainwater goods. Walling is smooth painted cement render with channelled rustications to ground floor. Windows to ground floor are round-headed timber multi-paned set into recesses; diminutive multi-paned replacement windows under eaves to first floor.

The principal elevation faces south and is three openings wide. Entrance to right at ground floor with tall round-headed transom light above three panelled timber double-leaf door.

The west elevation is abutted by adjoining building.

The north (rear) elevation is dominated by a large two-storey flat roof return to right. To left is a small single-storey return with uPVC window and simple timber door accessed by six brick and masonry steps; two windows to first floor. The exposed section of the two-storey return is partially timber clad with six openings to first floor; to ground floor there are two windows and two modern timber doors; the gable is blank.

The east elevation is partially abutted by adjoining building.

Setting:

Situated on the north of High Street, east of the junction with Church Road, in Holywood town centre. Rear car park enclosed with masonry and brick wall with modern steel gates to west.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: Smooth render
Windows: Replacements
RWG: Cast –iron

Historical information

This building, which, according to Merrick, dates from the 1840’s, started life as a domestic house and was then briefly a shop and a bank, before becoming Holywood’s post office for more than half a century.

A building is shown on the first edition map of 1834 and on the townland valuation town plan of the period, but this does not appear to be the current building. Merrick dates this building to the 1840’s. He points out that an ogee window in the attic of the gable of the neighbouring house, which he dates to the late 1830’s is masked by the current building, showing that the current building was constructed later. (Merrick, p.22, 26)

In Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64) the occupier is listed as Alexander Mackenzie, then Hugh Newell, then John Kennedy who lease the house from Robert Gardiner. It is valued at £21, later lowered to £20. The rent is £35 yearly and the house is partly furnished, about half of the furniture belonging to Gardiner. Dimensions are given.

The Gardiners are briefly in residence in the house, first Robert (c.1867) and then Archibald by 1879. They lease the house from Louisa Marshall who may be the landowner. The valuation is raised to £21 in 1879. J McChesney is the occupier in 1884 and the valuation is reduced to £18 the same year. James Johnston follows in 1887 and Letitia Johnston in 1992. In 1996 Jane Gardiner is the immediate lessor and Samuel J Pattison takes over the house the same year, turning the house into a shop which leads to an increase of the valuation to £23. The valuer comments that the rent is now £28+ taxes and that the shop has been put in by the landlady, the lease being 10 years. The Belfast and Ulster Directory of 1897 lists Samuel J Pattison as a grocer of High Street.

The building is taken over by the Northern Bank in 1906 and they are also the immediate lessors. After a brief period in the possession of James Milliken in 1923 the building becomes a Post Office in 1926 and is occupied by the Right Honourable Postmaster General. The valuation is deleted at this time but a new valuation is not given. It would appear that changes in the fenestration date from this time. At the time Merrick was writing in 1986 the building was still a post office but it had fallen vacant by the 1990’s. It was refurbished and extended in 2009 and is now in use as offices. (Merrick, p.26, www.planningni.gov.uk)

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/B/17/10A-G – Annual Revisions (1867-1930)
7. PRONI VAL/12/E/123/1/1-6 – Annual Revisions Town Plan (c1860-c1866)
8. PRONI VAL/12/E/123/2/1-6 – Annual Revisions Town Plan (c1867-1900)
9. Belfast and Ulster Directory, 1871

Secondary Sources

1. Merrick, Tony “Buildings of Holywood” Holywood: Holywood Advertiser, 1986
2. www.planningni.gov.uk

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A two-bay three-storey early Victorian former Post Office, now office, built c. 1840 and located to the north of High Street in Holywood town centre. Refurbished and extended in 2009, the building has lost the original sash windows, the floor plan has been altered, and little or no historic fabric remains internally. Of some interest as a former post office, it was not built as such and is not one of those designed by T F O Rippingham for the Ministry of Finance, although some attempt was made to introduce design motifs in that style. Alterations have detracted from its historic character and it is no longer of special architectural or historic interest.