53 Warren Road (former light house keepers' dwellings)

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Relatively plain two storey hipped roof rendered terrace block, with projecting end wings and flat roofed porches, containing five properties, originally built as light house keepers’ dwellings. The block, which sits overlooking the coastline to the north of Donaghadee, has a conservative late Georgian style appearance and looks as though it could date from the 1850s or 60s, but which evidence suggests is more likely to date from c.1884. To the rear a line of modern single storey garages was constructed c.1969, just beyond the back yards of each house. The properties are ‘symmetrically’ arranged within the plan form of the building, the SE wing, which contains all of no.53 and part of no.55, mirrored by the NW wing (containing all of no.61 and part of 59), with the main central portion containing the remainder of nos.55 and 59, with no.57 sandwiched in between.

The asymmetrical front elevation of no.53 faces SE. To the centre on the ground floor is a single storey flat roofed entrance porch with panelled door to SW face, and a single window to both the SE and NE faces. Both windows have sash frames with Georgian-like panes (2 panes over 4) and label moulding. The porch has a tall parapet with cornice-like string course. A low ‘wind break’ wall has been (relatively recently) constructed to the SW of the doorway.

To the left of the porch are two (almost paired) sash windows with Georgian-like panes (4/4) and linked label moulding. To the right are an identical pair of windows. To the first floor are three evenly spaced similar windows, with Georgian panes (6/6) but without label moulding. To the right the elevation merges with that of no.55. To left it merges with the SE façade of a large single storey lean-to, which has a window as porch.

The lean-to continues around the short SW and NW elevations. To the SW a modern lean-to conservatory has been added, to the NW the lean-to merges with that to the rear of no.55 and appears to have one window with modern frame.

The façade is rendered and painted (white). Eaves course and bevelled base. The hipped roof is slated (as is the lean-to). Two relatively tall rendered chimney stacks, that to NE probably shared with no.55. Cast iron rw goods.

To the SW end there is a small enclosed yard within which there appear to be two small single storey lean-to shed / out houses.

Historical information

This block was originally built as dwellings for light house keepers. Its date of construction is uncertain. Its plain late Georgian style appearance suggests the 1850s or 60s (this style have lingered on throughout Ireland well into the Victorian period), but it is not shown on the OS map of 1858-60 and seems likely to date from c.1884, at the same time as the new light house on Mew Island, (thus replacing the keepers’ dwellings which had served the old light house on the aptly named Light House Island). The relatively spacious interior some of the remaining internal detailing (if original) suggests this late date of construction also.

In the 1960s, the dwellings having ceased to be used for light house staff, the whole block was sold as a single unit, with the new owner adding the garages to the rear. Later (c.1970 onwards) the various individual dwellings were sold as separate properties.

No.63, to the north-west end, was used for much of the 20th century as a store, stocking provisions for the light house

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI OS/6/3/2/3 OS map, c.1901, Co Down sh 2

Secondary sources
1 W.G. Pollock, ‘Six miles from Bangor- The story of Donaghadee’ (Belfast 1975)
2 Hugh Dixon, Ken Kenmuir and Jill Kennett, ‘Historic buildings…Donaghadee and Portpatrick (Belfast, 1977), p.29

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest
Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance

Evaluation

Relatively plain two storey hipped roof rendered terrace block, with projecting end wings and flat roofed porches, containing five properties, originally built as light house keepers’ dwellings. The block, which sits overlooking the coastline to the north of Donaghadee, has a conservative late Georgian style appearance and looks as though it could date from the 1850s or 60s, but which evidence suggests is more likely to date from c.1884. To the rear a line of modern single storey garages was constructed c.1969, just beyond the back yards of each house. The properties are symmetrically arranged within the plan form of the building, the SE wing, which contains all of no.53 and part of no.55, mirrored by the NW wing (containing all of no.61 and part of 59), with the main central portion containing the remainder of nos.55 and 59, with no.57 sandwiched in between.

No.53, like all of the other properties has Georgian glazed sash windows throughout. To the south-west end there is a single storey lean-to section which appears to be original but has has a modern conservatory added to it.