78 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 east side elevation, two-storey gabled wing to the northeast corner 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, segmental-headed dormer and two redbrick chimneystacks with corbelled coping. Front gable embellished with decorative timber barge boards, timber finials and painted corbels to the eaves supporting original ogee-moulded cast-iron guttering and square 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 original single-pane timber sash windows and ogee horns.

The front elevation occupies the east half of the gabled elevation and abutted by a single-storey three-sided canted bay having natural slate 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.

East side elevation has a single-bay gabled projection abutted by a single-storey bowed bay window with timber casement windows c.1940, and a lean-to entrance porch to the re-entrant angle. The entrance porch has timber barge board as per front gable while the porch has a square-headed window opening facing east with fixed-pane Art Nouveau leaded glazing. The front door to the porch faces south and has flat panels with bolection mouldings, brass door furniture 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.

West elevation abutted by adjoining house No.76 (HB26/02/021A).

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 garden has a redbrick boundary wall and gabled redbrick outbuilding with some appropriate alterations to the roof and fenestration. Painted timber louvres and shutters to openings on southern facade.

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. John Rea had let his house to David Turner, banker and by 1900 to Joseph Guthrie, naval draughtsman. 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 it had more extensive outbuildings.

The 1901 census shows that Joseph Guthrie, a naval draughtsman from England, lived with his wife, two young sons and a general domestic servant from County Cork. By the time of the 1911 census he had become a naval architect and his older son, now 17, was employed as an ‘engine pupil at works’, probably the shipyards. Guthrie’s younger son, Thomas H Guthrie, later became an architect, whose prolific output in the 1920s and 30s largely consisted of designs for Belfast housing developers. Guthrie designed several hundred houses during these two decades and therefore left a substantial imprint on the growing city. (www.dia.ie)

Number 78 was the home of Joseph Guthrie until his death in 1936 (Will of Joseph Guthrie). His widow continued to live in the house for some years but by 1950 the house had been taken over by Mrs Mary G Libby. 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. PRONI Will of Joseph Guthrie, died 17th May 1936
10. 1901 census online
11. 1911 census online
12. Street Directories 1884-1950

Secondary Sources

1. www.dia.ie

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). The 1901 census indicates that the house was owned by a Naval architect from England, Joseph Guthrie, whose son Thomas H. Guthrie became a prolific Belfast housing architect in the 1920s and 30s. An interesting, irregular 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. Retaining the majority of its original detailing 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.