29 New Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Substantial two storey late Georgian style hipped roof gentleman’s residence which looks early 19th century but actually appears to have been built in c.1860. The property is set on the N side of New Road, to the N of Donaghadee town centre.

The symmetrical front façade faces roughly S. To the centre of the ground floor is the main entrance, which consists of a panelled door and semicircular fanlight with ‘spoked’ tracery all encased with fluted pilasters, with decorated capitals, and archivolt. Steps to door. To the left of the doorway are two windows with PVC sash frames with simulated Georgian panes (6 over 6). To the right are two similar windows, with five more to the first floor.

To the ground floor of the W façade there are two windows, as front only slightly smaller. To left on the first floor is a smaller window which appears to be fixed light (and also has simulated panes). To the right of this is a larger window, as front (and set at a marginally higher level). To left this façade merges with the W face of a small single storey lean-to.

To the ground floor of the E façade there are two windows as front with a window-like recess between. To the first floor there is a similar arrangement. To right this façade merges with the E face of a two storey lean-to.

Much of the rear elevation has a higher eaves level than the front E and W, with the result that it is largely three storey. To far left (E), however, it drops to two storey. To far left on the ground floor to the rear is a shallow single storey lean-to projection with a modern ‘up and over’ garage door. To immediate right of this (on main rear façade) is an enlarged window with PVC frame. To far right is the single storey lean-to (see above) which has a partly glazed door to the N face and a small window (with PVC frame) to the short E face. To the first floor left (on the two storey lean-to section) is a window, as front but slightly smaller. To first floor centre is a larger window, as front. To the second floor / attic level are two windows, as previous only much smaller.

The façade is finished in unpainted rough cast. The hipped roof is slated and has two large rendered chimney stacks (flush with the E and W façades). A chimney stack to rear has been removed. The garage lean-to roof is in corrugated iron. Cast iron rw goods.

Cobbled yard to rear with large two storey gabled outbuilding to N end. This also has a rough cast façade and slated roof. To the front (S) façade there is a timber sheeted pedestrian door to right of centre with a large garage door (with roller shutter) to right of this. To the left of the pedestrian door are two square-ish windows with PVC frames. To first floor are four roughly similar windows. To the W gable there is a tall first floor window with ‘Georgian’ panes.

Garden to front with low rubble wall to front.

Historical information

This house is similar very similar to its neighbour to the west side, both having the same overall late Georgian / regency look with hipped roofs and almost identical front entrances. However, whilst the neighbouring dwelling (no.31) appears to date from c.1834-38, this particular property appears to have been built around c.1860- a date based on the fact that although the building is not shown on the OS town plan of 1859, it is recorded in the second valuation of c.1861-3. At this point the house and its look-alike neighbour belonged to a Miss Cosh, a fact which supports a belief held by the current owner, that a former owner of no.31 built this dwelling (which would also explain the similarities between the houses).

The property was completely renovated in the 1970s, with the PVC window frames installed in the late 1990s.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI OS/8/8/1/1-9 OS town plan of Donaghadee, 1859
2 PRONI 2nd (‘Griffith’s’) valuation Donaghadee parish, Donaghadee, c.1861-63.
3 PRONI VAL/12E/121/1/1-9 Valuation town plan of Donaghadee, 1864-1908
4 PRONI OS/8/8/2//1-3 OS town plan of Donaghadee, 1901
5 PRONI VAL/12E/121/2/1-3 Valuation town plan of Donaghadee, 1908-35
6 PRONI VAL/3G/69/2/1-3 Valuation town plan of Donaghadee, 1932-56
7 PRONI VAL/3G/69/1/1-3 Valuation town plan of Donaghadee, 1934-43

Secondary sources
1 Hugh Dixon, Ken Kenmuir and Jill Kennett, ‘Historic buildings…Donaghadee and Portpatrick’ (Belfast, 1977), p.26

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Substantial two storey late Georgian style hipped roof gentleman’s residence which looks early 19th century but actually appears to have been built in c.1860. The property now has PVC sash frames throughout