59 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.59 faces NE. To the right of centre is a large full height hipped roof projecting bay. Set between the intersection of the bay and the rest of the elevation is a single storey flat roofed entrance porch with panelled door to SE face, 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 (on ground floor of bay) is an identical window. To the first floor are three similar windows, without label moulding (that to right is on first floor of the bay). To the right the elevation merges with that of no.57.

To the short SE elevation (which is shared with no.61) there is a window to the ground floor and one to the first floor, both of which correspond to those to front.

The ‘rear’ SE elevation is covered at ground floor level by a lean-to section. This has three windows of varying size, one with a 2/2 sash frame, the others with more modern. To first floor right (above the lean-to) is a sash window (6/3). To the ‘rear’ SW elevation there is a large, relatively recent, glazed porch to the ground floor which (to SE) abuts the lean-to. To the first floor there are two windows, that to left as first floor front, with that to right fixed light with Georgian panes.

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 NW shared with nos.57 and 61. Cast iron rw goods.

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.59 has retained its original appearance both front and back, but to the rear a glazed porch has been added.