57 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 symmetrical front elevation of no.57 faces NE. To the of centre is a single storey flat roofed entrance porch with panelled door to NW and SE faces, and a window to NE face. The window has a sash frame with Georgian-like panes (2 panes over 4) and label moulding. The porch has a tall parapet with cornice-like string course.

To the left of the porch is a sash window with Georgian panes (6/6) and label moulding. To the right is an identical window, with three similar windows to the first floor, without label moulding.

The writers did not gain access to the rear, but from a distance they could see that the whole of the ground floor level is covered by a large lean-to. To first floor is a centrally positioned sash window (2/4)

The façade is rendered and painted (white). Eaves course and bevelled base. The gabled roof is slated (as is the lean-to). Two relatively tall rendered chimney stacks, shared with nos.55 and 59. Cast iron rw goods to front.

Small enclosed yard to rear.

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.57 has retained its original appearance to front with central porch and Georgian paned sash windows. To the rear there is a large single storey lean-to section.