Rosemount

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Large two storey late Victorian house (c.1887), largely intact and well maintained. The house is set on the W side of Victoria Avenue, slightly back from the line of the terraces to the N and S. This property is neither extremely old nor is its type particularly rare, however it is largely original both inside and out and it is well maintained.

Front (E) facade is symmetrical. In the centre is a panelled door with semicircular fanlight. The doorway is encased with pilasters with panelled surbases and decorative brackets which support a segmental arch pediment/hood. To the left of the doorway are twinned sash windows with panelled pilasters and moulded brackets which support a cornice over a lintel frieze. Part of the cornice is damaged. The windows rest on a cill course with brackets. To the right of the door are similar windows.

To the first floor are five sash windows set on a bracket cill course. The outer windows are twinned whilst that to the centre is single. All have segmental arch heads and ‘shouldered and heeled; moulded surrounds. Eaves course. Chamfered plinth. Below the eaves course to the far left is a small timber house name plaque.

The S gable has a central sash window on a cill course to the centre and left on the first floor are two sash windows with segmental arch heads, both set on a cill course. The eaves course extends to the gable to form a pediment. The outermost sections of the course are supported with twin corbels.

The N gable has two sash windows to the centre and right on the first floor on a cill course. To the first floor right is a segmental arch headed sash window, also on a cill course. The extended eaves course forms a pediment on this gable also, however, the course itself incorporates shaped guttering.

To the left hand side at the rear there extends a large two storey gabled return. To the N facade of this return there is a window to the left on the ground floor which now has a modern sash-like frame. To the first floor are three small windows set on the one cill. The outer windows have sash frames, but the middle opening is blocked to the lower half and has a top hung sash above. The gable of the return is blank. The S facade of the return has a half glazed door to the centre left on the ground floor and a sash window to the right. To the first floor are two small sash windows set on the one cill.

To the immediate S of the return, attached to it and the main house, is a full height lean to stairwell projection. To the upper level of this projection is a semicircular headed sash window with margin panes and coloured glass. There is a smaller plain four pane window to the ground floor. To the right of the stairwell projection, to the main rear façade, is a sash window set on a cill course. To the first floor is a similar window but with segmental arch head.

The facade is finished in lined cement render and unpainted. The roof of the main house and the return are both covered in Bangor blue slates. Slight overhang to main roof. Two yellow brick chimney stacks to gables of main roof , with a further stack to the N at the rear. Stack to gable of return also. The short stairwell projection roof appears to be covered in corrugated asbestos.

To the front of the house is a large garden with a large garden and outbuilding to the rear. Rendered wall to front with sturdy square gate pillars with pyramidal caps surrounding decorative wrought iron gates.

Historical information

As its name hints at, Victoria Avenue was laid out in 1887, the year of Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee, though it was originally intended to be called Railway Avenue. Thus the buildings within it date from either this year or shortly afterwards, for in 1891 it was remarked that the houses were going up ‘faster even than was anticipated’. This house (according to the present owner) was built by a Mr. McClements and was originally named ‘Victoria House’ [?suggesting it does indeed date from the year 1887]. McClements may also have built much of the terrace to the north. The current owner’s father purchased the house in 1928.

References- Secondary sources
1 Trevor McCavery 'Newtown: a history of Newtownards' (Dundonald 1994), p.168.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Large, sturdy, two storey late Victorian house (c.1887), which whilst not particularly rare nor exceptional is largely original and an excellent example of a substantial middle class residence of the period.