1-9 Steel Dickson Avenue

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two storey terrace block in three stepped blocks (following the slope of the street) containing five dwellings of possible mid 19th century origin, constructed in random rubble with red brick dressings to (many) openings. Most of the proerties have large modern extensions to the rear and some have their front windows enlarged. The block is set on the S side of Steel Dickson Avenue, to the S of Portaferry town centre.

The front elevation faces W. No.1- This house forms the lowest ‘step’ at the S end of the terrace, close to Shore Street. To the ground floor there is a timber sheeted half (stable) door, with a small pane in the upper half, to the right. To the left of this a modern two pane window, with a top hung upper light. The first floor has a window similar to ground floor. All the front openings have red brick dressings and brick quoins to right upper section of facade. Stone cills. Exposed gable rendered. The rear façade could not be seen in its entirety (due to a high wall), but does have a window to first floor, close to the eaves. Bangor blue slate gabled roof. Rendered chimney stack with yellow brick upper courses to No.3. Cast iron down spout and PVC gutter.

No.3 (This house forms the centre ‘step’ with No.5) To the ground floor right is a timber panelled and glazed door. Simple surround to door. Two steps to door. To the left of this is an enlarged window opening with modern frame. Similar, but slightly smaller, window to the first floor. Brick dressings to door with remnants of dressings to window bay on ground floor and cement surround to window on first floor. Concrete cills. Brick quoins to right upper section of facade. Exposed gable rendered. The rear is now completely covered by a large modern two storey extension with a flat roof. Gabled roof with asbestos slates and a rendered and yellow brick potless stack. to No.1. and a recent red brick stack, with simple corbelling and matching pots, to No.5. PVC gutter.

No.5 Timber sheeted door to right, window to left (boarded up). First floor window also boarded. Painted brick dressings to all front openings. Stone cills. No access to rear. Pitched roof with Bangor blue slates. Recent red brick chimney with simple corbelling and matching pots to No.3 and potless red brick stack with rendered cap to No.7. Cast iron gutter and down spout.

No.7 (This house forms the uppermost ‘step’ with No.9) The ground floor has a modern timber panel and glazed door, with plain fanlight, to right. Modern large slightly ‘bowed’ timber window to left (set in enlarged opening. Surround to both door and window rendered. Small modern three pane timber window, with top hung uppermost pane, to first floor, with rendered surround and remnants of brick dressings. Concrete cills. Brick quoins to right upper section of facade. Rear dominated by large, modern, single storey flat roofed extension. Gabled roof with Bangor blue slates and two matching red brick chimney stacks with rendered caps and no pots. 'Dormer to rear of roof with doorway (which leads out onto a small 'terrace' on the roof of the extension).

No.9 To right on the ground floor is a plain timber sheeted door with two pane PVC window to left. Similar window to first floor. Brick dressings to all bays, with slight segmental arch curve to head of ground floor window bay. North gable and narrow part of facade to left finished in roughcast render. Large modern two storey extension to rear with flat roof. Gabled roof with Bangor blue slates and a rendered parapet to the north side. Two red brick chimney stacks with pots to stack on north side and rendered cap (and one pot) to that on the south. Cast iron gutter and down spout. Prominent electric cabling running along whole of terrace between ground and first floors.

Historical information

This site is shown vacant on Patrick O'Hare's map of 1799, but had been developed by 1834 (when it was known as 'Back Lane'). The valuation returns of c.1835 reveal that almost all of the properties in the lane were exempt from valuation at that stage, suggesting all were modest dwellings, much like those contained within this block. It is possible that this block dates from much later in the century, however, as the 1902 revisions to the 1861 valuation map appears to indicate. The brick surrounds to the window openings also suggest later 19th century construction; however, it must be added that the 1861 valuation returns themselves list the properties as occupied, with no mention of ongoing construction.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI D.552/B/3/3/1 Savage/Nugent Papers: ‘A Plan or Map of the Town of Portaferry’ by Patrick O’Hare, 1799 [The
Savage/Nugent Papers contain many documents relating to Portaferry and the surrounding area]
2 Linen Hall Library ‘Pigot & Co.’s Dublin and Hibernian Provincial Directory’ (Manchester 1824)
3 'Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland Vol.7: Parishes of County Down II', ed. Angelique Day and Patrick McWilliams (QUB 1991)
4 PRONI OS/6/3/32/1 OS maps, 1st ed., 1834, Down sheet 32
5 PRONI VAL/1B/37 1st valuation, Ballyphilip, c.1835-38
6 PRONI VAL/1D/3/4 Valuation town plan of Portaferry, c.1838
7 Linen Hall Library ‘Slater’s National Commercial Directory of Ireland’ (Manchester 1846), p.520-23
8 PRONI and Linen Hall Library ‘Belfast and Province of Ulster Directory’ Vols.1-21, 1852-1900, (Belfast, Henderson [1852-65], Belfast News-Letter [1865- ])
9 Linen Hall Library ‘Slater’s Royal National Commercial Directory of Ireland’ (Manchester 1856), p.592-95
10 PRONI OS/8/23/1- OS town plan of Portaferry, 1859
11 PRONI Second ('Griffith's') valuation, 1863 [In print.]
12 PRONI VAL/12E/112/1- Valuation maps of Portaferry, c.1863, with revisions of 1902
13 Linen Hall Library ‘Slater’s Royal National Commercial Directory of Ireland’ (Manchester 1870), pp.341-43
14 PRONI OS/8/23/2 OS town plan of Portaferry, 1874
15 George Henry Bassett ‘County Down Guide and Directory’ (Dublin 1886)
16 PRONI OS/8/23/3 OS town plan of Portaferry, 1900
17 UFTM WAG 609, 611, 612 W.A. Green Collection, photographs of Portaferry Quay, harbour, Shore Road etc.
18 PRONI VAL/12E/112/2- Valuation maps of Portaferry, 1902, with revisions of 1935

Secondary sources
1 G. Philip Bell, C.E.B. Brett, Sir Robert Matthew, 'Ulster Architectural Heritage Survey: Portaferry & Strangford'
(Belfast UAHS 1969)
2 Dick Oram, "The Buildings of Portaferry" in 'Journal of the Upper Ards Historical Society No.16' (1992), p. 24

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Much altered two storey terrace block in three stepped blocks (following the slope of the street) containing five dwellings of possible mid 19th century origin, constructed in random rubble with red brick dressings to (many) openings. Buildings of little architectural interest.