76 South Parade

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Semi-detached gable-fronted three-storey redbrick house, dated 1883. Irregular on plan facing south with entrance porch and three-storey gabled projection to west side elevation and two-storey return to rear. Located on the north side of South Parade on a modest landscaped site having rear access via rear lane.

Pitched natural slate roof with roll-moulded black clay ridge tiles and two redbrick chimneystacks with corbelled coping. Gables embellished with decorative timber barge boards, timber finials and painted corbels to the eaves supporting original ogee-moulded cast-iron guttering and cast-iron downpipes. Redbrick walling laid in Flemish bond with projecting render plinth course, continuous painted flush impost courses to the upper floors and a continuous sill course to the first floor. Square-headed window openings with single-pane timber sash windows and ogee horns.

The front elevation occupies the west half of the gabled elevation and abutted by a single-storey three-sided canted bay having lead-lined roof and the opes flanked by pilasters on a continuous sill course. To the centre of the gable is a painted masonry plaque stating; 'Daisyfield / Villas / 1883'. The square-headed window opes to the first floor have stop-chamfered masonry lintels set within segmental-headed brick arches while the second floor has a single segmental-headed window opening with a stop-chamfered masonry lintel and brick arch above.

West side elevation has a single-bay gabled projection abutted by a single-storey bay window (as per front elevation) and a lean-to entrance porch to the re-entrant angle. The projection and the entrance porch have timber barge boards as per front gable while the porch has a square-headed window opening facing west with single-pane timber sash windows and coloured glass margin lights. The front door to the porch faces south and has flat panels with bolection mouldings and a rectangular overlight opening onto three nosed stone steps.

Rear elevation abutted by lower gable-ended two-storey redbrick return and fronting onto a small enclosed yard.

East elevation abutted by adjoining house No.78 (HB26/02/021B).

To the west of the property there is a timber garage with a felt roof accessed from the rear laneway.

There is an original wrought iron gate and posts to the pedestrian entrance path on South Parade.

Setting:
Located on the north side of South Parade on a modest landscaped site and set among a variety of similarly aged suburban types dwellings. The house to the west was demolished and a development of terraced houses was started but not finished.

Roof Natural slate
RWG Cast-iron
Walling Redbrick
Windows Timber sash

Historical information

This semi-detached pair of dwellings dates from 1883 (date plaque) and is first shown, captioned ‘Daisyfield Villas’ on the Belfast town plan dating from 1883-4. South Parade was the first to be built of three residential roads connecting the Ravenhill and Ormeau Roads, and is the only one of the three to be shown on the 1883-4 map. ‘Daisyfield Villas’ were among the first buildings to be constructed along the new road and are shown as a pair of semi-detached dwellings with gardens to the front and side. A large tree or bush is shown in the front garden of each house. Number 78 has slightly more extensive outbuildings to the rear.

‘Daisyfield Villas’ is first listed in the street directory for 1884 as the residence of James Davidson, stationer and fancy goods salesman (no. 76) and John Rea, provision merchant (No 78). Valuation records give a valuation of £30 for number 76 which comprises house, yard and gardens and £36 for number 78, due to its larger number of outbuildings.

By 1895 both houses had been let out to tenants. James Davidson had let number 76 to the Rev John McMillan, minister at Cooke Centenary Church. The 1900 Belfast Revaluation gives a date to the building of 1883 and states that the houses comprised 7 rooms excluding the kitchen. The houses were 3 storey and fitted with gas and a bathroom. The rent for number 76 was £50 minus taxes and the house was partly furnished by the lessor, while the rent for number 78 was £44 plus taxes. A detailed plan of the dwellings shows that the plans were identical in most respects. Number 78 differed because the back yard had been covered with a glass roof and had more extensive outbuildings.

Rev John McMillan, from County Derry, describes himself in the 1901 census as a clergyman in the Presbyterian church and also as the editor of the Temperance Journal. He lives with his wife and a domestic servant, a 27-year-old catholic from Monaghan. A relative of the maid, probably a sister, was visiting at the time of the census.

Rev John McMillan, a native of Maghera, was the first minister of the newly constructed Cooke Centenary Church and was installed in August 1892. It seems likely that the present house was his first residence and therefore became the manse for some years. Rev McMillan was sometimes embattled in his years at Cooke. As a champion of the temperance movement he objected for conscience’s sake to the use of alcoholic wine at communion services. Rev McMillan retired in 1930 and died four years later having left ‘Daisyfield Villas’ some years before. He was responsible for the construction of schools behind the church building and in 1963 when these buildings were handed back to the church by the Education Authority, who no longer required them, the buildings were refurbished and opened as the McMillan Halls in honour of the minister who had built them. (Allen)

Number 76 fell vacant in 1912. Subsequent occupants were W L Millen, agent (1928), James Smyth, engineer (1929), Mrs E Smyth (1937), Hugh R Archbold (1938), J C Wilson, clerk (1942) Miss O Wilson (1946) and by 1949 the house had been taken over by Dr J J Keenan. The house continues in use as a domestic dwelling.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/3/4/2 – Second Edition OS map 1858
2. PRONI OS/6/3/4/3 – Third Edition OS Map 1902
3. PRONI OS/6/3/4/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1920-21
4. PRONI OS/6/3/4/5 – Fifth Edition OS Map 1931
5. PRONI VAL/12/B/43/A/1-45 – Annual Revisions (1863-1930)
6. PRONI VAL/12/B/43/K/1-8 – Annual Revisions (1897-1930)
7. PRONI VAL/7/B/7/19 – Belfast Revaluation (1900)
8. PRONI VAL/12/F/3/7/3 – Annual Revisions (1930-35)
9. 1901 census online
10. 1911 census online
11. Street Directories 1884-1950

Secondary Sources

1. “A History of Congregations in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland 1610-1982” authorised by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Belfast: Presbyterian Historical Society of Ireland, 1982 (available at www.presbyterianhistoryireland.com)
2. Allen, R www.cookecentenary.org.uk

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
S. Authenticity
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Semi-detached gable-fronted three-storey redbrick house, dated 1883, one of a pair known as 'Daisyfield Villas' (wall plaque). Owned by James Davidson it was leased to the Rev. John McMillan, the first minister of the newly constructed Cooke Centenary church and became the manse for a number of years. An interesting irregular plan, facing south with entrance porch and three-storey gabled projection to west side elevation and two-storey return to rear and a timber garage to the West. Located on the north side of South Parade on a modest landscaped site having rear access via rear lane. Retaining the majority of its original detailing both internally and externally, including original glazing. This house along with its neighbour, with which it has group value, constitutes a fine example of late Victorian suburban architecture in an unspoiled setting.