15 Manse Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A single-storey modern dwelling built in 1959 to the designs of Will McVeigh. Oblong plan form with split level and single storey returns. Located to the north of Manse Road, west of the crossroads junction of Ballygowan Road and Upper Braniel Road; approximately 3miles south east of Belfast city centre.

Pitched timber shingle roof with timber ridge tiles; timber fascia and barge boards; replacement uPVC gutters with cast-iron downpipes. Rubble masonry chimney; no pots. Painted roughcast rendered walling with projected rubble masonry plains. Replacement uPVC double-glazed windows. Some single glazed metal framed glazing to the rear. Solid timber front door with timber framed side-and-over lights.

The principal elevation faces southwest and is asymmetrically arranged. The front entrance is located right of centre; large wedge-shaped cantilevered canopy encompassing full height tripartite glazing to the left; rubble masonry walling and projected full height glazing to the right. Large horizontal window left of the front entrance; further smaller metal framed casement window and replacement double-width garage door.

The left gable is blank; clipped verge.

The rear elevation is asymmetrically arranged. The right is abutted by a single storey gable-ended return with matching ridge and eaves levels. Two small windows left of centre to the gable end; matching larger windows to the right cheek. The left cheek is abutted by a single-storey flat-roofed addition comprising a rear door and single large window. Centrally located on the elevation is a horizontal tri-partite window to the left and squared casement window to the right; single steel framed roof light to the rear roof pitch. The left is abutted by a split-level gable-ended return; matching eaves level; raised ridge level to form a south westerly facing shingle clad gablet over the principal ridge with diminutive tri-partite glazing. The right cheek comprises various window openings with wide flat-roofed wall-headed dormer located right of centre; modern roof lights. The gable end is abutted by a timber clad flat-roofed link block connecting to the adjoining property (of no interest); centrally positioned window to the upper level. The left cheek comprises various window openings and flat-roofed wall-headed dormer.

The right gable is symmetrically arranged. Elevated on tapered concrete stilts. Large horizontal window. Projected barge-boards and eave returns.

Setting:

The house is screened from the main road with heavy vegetation and woodland surroundings. A large lawn to the front leads to a set of rubble steps which access the front entrance. Enclosed garden to the rear adjacent to a large double-garage erected in the style of a boat-house. Adjoining the dwelling to the rear is a later single storey dwelling, originally connected internally, but now functioning as a separate house under different ownership.

Roofing: Timber shingle
Walling: Roughcast/rubble masonry
Windows: uPVC Replacement
RWG: uPVC Replacement/cast-iron

Historical information

The present house was built in 1959 by architect William C McVeigh to his own designs. It first appears on the OS map edition dating from the 1960s/70s and in valuation records dating from 1956-72 as a house, offices and garden with buildings valued at £60. McVeigh, who was a contemporary and friend of Ian Campbell, subsequently worked in partnership with Ken Brown at offices in Mount Charles, Belfast and died c2005. (McVeigh Brown Architectural Parnership)

Primary Sources

1. OS Map 147 – 1960s/70s
2. PRONI VAL/4/B/3/22 – Second General Revaluation (1956-72)
3. Information from The McVeigh Brown Architectural Partnership Belfast

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A single-storey modern dwelling built c.1960 to the designs of Will McVeigh. A modest dwelling with modern external features and a well formulated internal layout, joinery details drawing influence from the American domestic dwellings of the early 20th century. Well maintained grounds and unique garage to the rear contribue to the setting of the house, however the later adjoining dwelling detracts from its setting. Further inappropriate uPVC replacements to the windows and rainwater goods also detract from its architectural composition and interest.