10-12 Balfour Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Grouping consisting of two gabled houses near the E end of the S side Balfour Street in the N side of Newtownards. Both of these house were probably once ‘free standing’, but now surrounded by terraces.

No.10 is to the E. The front N facade has a modern timber door (once partly glazed) with simple narrow stone surround with keystone. To the left is a modern window with simple surround, with a similar window to the left. Until recently there was another window to the far left but this has been blocked and no trace remains. Two widely spaced windows to first floor (very close to eaves) with modern frames.

The E gable is blank.

On the right (E) side of the rear is a full height flat roofed extension with various modern windows and modern rear door. The first floor of the main house has two modern windows to the first floor and one to the right on the ground floor.

The whole facade is finished in rough cast render with asbestos free slates to the pitched roof, and one red brick chimney stack. PVC rw goods.

No.11 Has a slightly left of centre modern panelled and glazed door with small PVC single pane window to left and very large PVC window to the right. To the left on the first floor is a single pane (?fixed light) PVC window with acid etched glass showing Scrabo Tower. To the far right is a squatter but broader PVC window.

The rear has two PVC windows to the first floor, with that to the right much smaller. To the ground floor are further PVC windows and a PVC door.

The front facade is finished in lined render, the rear in rough cast.

Exposed section of W gable finished in rough cast.

Asbestos slates to the pitched roof with one rendered chimney stack. PVC rw goods.

Historical information

Though Balfour Street had not yet been laid out in c.1858-60, a building appears to be shown on the site of the present Nos.10 and 12 on the revised OS Map of this date This, coupled with the fact that the present houses do not blend in with the rest of the buildings within the street (which are either late Victorian/Edwardian or modern) suggests that these houses may indeed predate the street itself and may date from some time between c.1834-58. No.10 apparently used to have one room on the ground floor which was used by a weaver[s] well into the early years of the twentieth century.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI Ordnance Survey Maps, 1st Edition, 1834, Co. Down 6.
2 PRONI Ordnance Survey Maps, 1st Revision, 1860, Co. Down 6.
3 PRONI 2nd valuation, Newtownards, c.1863.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Grouping of two plain looking two storey houses of probable mid nineteenth century origin (possibly pre c.1858), now modernised.