28 The Parade

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two storey gabled house of probable late seventeenth century origin, but with Georgian façade. and early Victorian door surround. The house is set in the middle of a terrace, to the eastern side of The Parade near to the harbour. This house is built into a curve within the terrace and its ‘gable’ walls are not straight.

Front N facade has a symmetrical arrangement with a central doorway with timber sheeted door and four pane fanlight. The door is encased with an early Victorian door surround (c.1840s) with pilasters and console brackets supporting a cornice. To the left of the doorway are two windows with Georgian paned sliding sash frames. To the right of the doorway are two similar windows, with five more to the first floor. The facade is finished with lined render and chamfered quoins and is painted. A section of the facade of a previous dwelling to the E of this is still visible beyond the quoins of the front facade of this building.

In the centre of the rear facade there is a two storey gabled return. To the gable of this return is a first floor window, as before, with a set of (sympathetic looking) French doors to the ground floor. To the W face of the return is a window (as before) to the ground and the first floor. To the left on the main rear facade are a pair of French doors to the ground floor is a window directly above to the first floor (much as before but with 8 panes to each sash rather than 6). To the right on the main rear facade is a window (as front) to the ground and directly above to the first floor. The rear facade is finished in plain render and painted.

The main and return roofs are both gabled and covered in Bangor blue slates. High stone parapets and two rendered chimney stacks. Three small cast iron skylights to front. Three Velux windows to rear (of varying size). Cast iron rw goods.

Historical information

Deeds in the possession of the owner date back to 1676 when the house was leased to a ship captain named Robert Montgomery. This information ties in with James Dillon’s Donaghadee map of 1700 which indicates dwellings on this general site. Judging from the style of the present building, however, it is likely that the house was substantially renovated in the eighteenth century, at which time the roof may also have been raised. The return appears to be mid to late nineteenth century (it does not appear on the valuation map of c.1836) and the present front entrance surround is probably early Victorian. Recently this house was restored both inside and out, with Georgian slidind sash windows reinstated.

In the valuation records of c.1836 the property was in possession of a Mrs. Miller and had a rateable value of £9-8-0.

References- Primary sources

1. Map of Donaghadee [?1700]. [This map is curious. It belongs to the owner of the Manor House, Donaghadee, and was believed to have been drawn up by one James Dillon for Daniel De la Cherois in 1780. However, the overall crude style of the piece and the fact that the representations of the buildings (especially the Church) contradict what we know of them at this stage, suggests it is much earlier . This theory appears to be borne out by the fact that the actual date on the map is probably ‘1700’ rather than ‘1780’, a stroke from the ‘7’ passing through the first ‘0’ giving it the appearance of a figure 8. The map has been reproduced for several publications (notably John Stevenson’s Two centuries of life in Down 1600-1800 republished by White Row Press in 1990) each of which have accepted the date of 1780 at face value, yet questioned the contradictions in the style and positioning of the buildings.] This map shows what must be the original Manor House.
2. ‘A map of the town of Donaghadee...’ [c.1771-90]. [This map was prepared for Daniel De la Cherois, who inherited much of the town and its hinterland in 1771. As Daniel died in 1790, the map can thus be dated to some time between 1771-90. At some point someone has written on the map ‘about 1780’, a date which may be accurate.]
3. PRONI VAL 1B/32 p.9 1st valuation, Donaghadee parish, Donaghadee., c.1836. [See also accompanying town plan.]
4. PRONI OS Maps 1st rev. 1858-60, Co. Down 3.
5. PRONI 2nd (‘Griffith’s’) valuation Donaghadee parish, Donaghadee, 1863. [The town plan for the 2nd valuation is not available at PRONI and therefore it is difficult to match the properties listed in the valuation with actual buildings.]

Secondary sources

1. Hugh Dixon et al Historic buildings, groups of buildings, buildings of architectural importance in Donaghadee and Portpatrick (UAHS 1977), p.25.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H+. Alterations enhancing the building
I. Quality and survival of Interior

Criteria for listing: historic interest

V. Authorship
Z. Rarity
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Fine 2- storey house, of possible late seventeenth century origin, with most of its architectural character intact.