31 New Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Substantial two storey late Georgian style hipped roof gentleman’s residence of c.1836. 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 (relatively broad and original looking) nine panel timber door and semicircular fanlight, with unusual ‘spoked’ an ‘looped’ tracery, all encased with fluted pilasters, with decorated capitals, and archivolt. Steps to door. To the left of the doorway are two sash windows with 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 of roughly similar size and similar [?]fixed light timber frames with Georgian panes. To left on the first floor is a similar sized window with modern frame. To the right of this is a larger window, as front (and set at a marginally higher level).

To the ground floor of the E façade there are two windows as front to left and centre, with a much smaller window, with modern ‘Georgian’ paned frame, to right. To the first floor there is a similar arrangement, but with the window to right set at a slightly lower, (half-landing), level and possessing a Georgian paned sash frame. Above the latter window, (and second half-landing level), is a similar, but smaller window. This façade is abutted by a low rendered wall to the left hand side.

The rear elevation is three storey and double gabled, with a (relatively shallow) two storey lean-to placed roughly to the centre. To ground floor of the lean-to there are two windows of differing size (but generally small) with single pane fixed light timber frames. To the first floor is a larger window, as front. To the narrow W face there is a timber door to ground floor, and to the E face there is a tiny single pane window to first floor. To the ground floor right of the lean-to (to the rear façade of the main section of the house) there is fixed light timber window with ‘Georgian’ panes. To attic level there are three evenly spaced sash windows with Georgian panes (all 3/6).

The façade is finished in unpainted lined render. The hipped roof is slated and has two large rendered chimney stacks (flush with the E and W façades), with two smaller stacks to the rear gables. Cast iron rw goods.

Yard to rear with single storey outbuilding to N end (with modern windows garage door etc.). Garden to front with low rendered wall.

Historical information

This house is not shown on the OS map of 1834, but appears to be that shown on the valuation town plan of 1838. The valuation returns of the same year list the name of the occupant, as a William Dupre or William Dupris [the handwriting is difficult to decipher]. In the second valuation of c.1861-3 the resident is recorded as one William Young, with the owner as a Miss Cosh.

A sale poster dating from August 1920 (in possession of the present owner (2001)) tells us that the house ‘known as “Carnathan”’ contained 3 reception rooms, 5 bedrooms, ‘commodious box room accommodation, kitchen and scullery, 2 pantries, bathroom (h[ot] & c[old]), with hot press and separate WC’ with grounds including a croquet lawn, orchards and garden.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI VAL 1B/32 p.3 1st valuation, Donaghadee, c.1834-6. [The valuation for the town of Donaghadee (unlike others of this period) does not provide the dimensions, nor give an indication of the age of the buildings.]
2 PRONI VAL/1D/3/16 First valuation town plan of Donaghadee
3 PRONI OS/8/8/1/1-9 OS town plan of Donaghadee, 1859
4 PRONI 2nd (‘Griffith’s’) valuation Donaghadee parish, Donaghadee, 1863.
5 PRONI VAL/12E/121/1/1-9 Valuation town plan of Donaghadee, 1864-1908
6 PRONI OS/8/8/2//1-3 OS town plan of Donaghadee, 1901
7 PRONI VAL/12E/121/2/1-3 Valuation town plan of Donaghadee, 1908-35
8 Sale poster of 18th August 1920 [In possession of present owner of house.]
9 PRONI VAL/3G/69/2/1-3 Valuation town plan of Donaghadee, 1932-56
10 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.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Substantial two storey late Georgian style residence of c.1836.