2-8 Lower Crescent

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Terrace of four gabled houses, one a large two storey house the rest much smaller, set at the W end of Lower Crescent, to the NE edge of Comber town centre.

HB24/14/002A No.2 This house is set at the W end of the terrace and is a large-ish two storey former farmhouse. The front S facade is symmetrical with a central modern timber and glazed door. To the left is a large PVC window with an identical window to the right of the doorway. To the first floor are three PVC windows, the two outer windows larger than that to the centre. Simple surrounds to windows.

The W facade is blank. To the rear is a right of centre modern glazed door. To the left of this is a large PVC window, with a similar window to the left. To the first floor are three unevenly spaced PVC windows of varying sizes. The exposed section of the E gable is blank.

The facade is finished in rough cast and painted. The roof is gabled and covered in Bangor blue slates. Two (gable) yellow brick chimney stacks. Metal and PVC rw goods.

This house has been greatly altered in recent times with the original ‘Ards’ doorway removed and the window openings altered (those to the front had segmental arch heads). As well as this a large return was demolished at the rear and the rubble facade (with brick dressings) has been rendered.

HB24/14/002B No.4 This house is much smaller than No.2. The front (W) facade has a PVC door to the left with simple sandstone surround. To the right of the doorway is a window opening now with PVC frame (as do all the windows). To the first floor are two smaller windows.

The ground floor at the rear is completely taken up with a large flat roofed extension with a modern door and windows. To the first floor (main house rear) is a small window to the right and a small square window to the left.
The front facade is of sandstone construction, the rear is finished in pebbledash. The roof is gabled and covered in asbestos free slates.

HB24/14/002C-D Nos.6-8 These houses are largely identical. To the front there is a modern glazed door (with sandstone surround) to the left and a PVC window the right. The door to No.6 has two stone steps, with one step to No.8. The rear facade of both house is now completely covered by a large flat roofed extension. The roofs of both are gabled and covered in asbestos free slates. To the front of each is a timber constructed gabled dormer and to the rear the roofs of both are dominated by a large flat roofed dormer (shared between both properties). PVC rw goods. Rendered chimney stack to W on No.6.

Historical information

This terrace is not shown on the OS map of 1834 and appears to be only partly shown on that of 1858-60 (No.2 may be missing). The owner of No.2 believed that her house had been built in the 1860s by the Murdock family and served as a large farm house with several large outbuildings, one of which (to the W of the house) has been converted to a dwelling. No.2 possessed a large rear return which was demolished recently when the house was completely renovated.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI OS maps 1st rev. 1858-60, Co. Down 10.
2 PRONI 2nd valuation, Comber parish, Town Parks, c.1863.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Varied terrace of one and two storey dwellings probably dating from c.1840-1860. Most of these houses have been modernised in recent times and No.2 especially has lost its ‘Ards’ doorway, had its window openings altered and a large rear return (which may or may not have been original) demolished. The rest of the houses have been greatly extended at the rear and all properties sport modern doors and window frames.