23 BLOOMFIELD ROAD

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Semi-detached three-storey redbrick Arts & Crafts style house with applied timber framing to 2nd storey, dated 1900, most likely by architect W.J. Moore. Regular plan form facing north with a three-storey gabled bay to front elevation, a two-storey gabled projection to east elevation and a two-storey return to rear. The house forms part of a row of 3 pairs of semi-detached houses to the south side of Bloomfield Road.

Pitched natural slate roof with roll top red-clay ridge tiles, red-clay knob finials and a shared redbrick chimneystack with corbelled coping and red-clay chimney pots. All gables have timber barge boards; half-round cast-iron guttering and circular cast-iron downpipes throughout. Redbrick walling is laid to a variation between the English-garden bond and the Scottish bond (four courses of stretchers to one of headers) with projecting plinth course. Window openings to principal elevations are square-headed with stop-chamfer jambs to brick openings and replacement 1/1 double-hung timber sash windows with coved horns.

The front elevation has a two-storey three-sided canted bay supporting a third storey gabled projection, rendered with mock timber detailing. The elevation is embellished with timber brackets, continuous painted sill course, flush painted lintel course, terracotta mouldings and terracotta plaque to the centre of each bay.

A two-storey single bay gabled projection to the east side elevation contains a segmental-headed door opening, facing north, with replacement timber panelled door and fanlight approached by a single nosed step. The east elevation has painted sills, flush painted lintels and terracotta mouldings. There is a terracotta plaque over the main doorcase.

Although no access to the rear was granted it appears that the original return has been enlarged to the east resulting in an asymmetrical two-storey redbrick return with pitched slate roof and roll top red-clay ridge tiles. The original portion has a single course of decorative bricks. The window openings are square-headed with replacement top-hung uPVC casement windows.

West side elevation abutted by adjoining house No. 21 (HB26/10/001A).

The front yard is divided into a paved pathway and a modest landscaped garden enclosed by a redbrick dwarf wall topped by metal railings and metal gate. Directly to the rear of the building is an alleyway separating the dwelling from a row of three-storey terraced houses.
The terrace forms the end of three terraced streets, facing North East and fronting on to Bloomfield Road near St Donards Church of Ireland (HB26.10.03)

Materials:
Roof: natural slate
RWG: cast iron
Walling: red brick
Windows: replacement timber sash

Historical information

No. 23 Bloomfield Road, a three-storey Arts & Craft style dwelling, was constructed in 1900 along with the adjoining nos 21and 25-31 (HB26/10/001A and C-F). No. 23 Bloomfield Road was first recorded in the Annual Revisions in 1900 when the building still lay vacant. The valuer noted that nos 21-31 were owned by a Mr. Francis Quinn of Francis Quinn & Sons and the Beechpark Estate Co, who lived in nearby Wynford Street (Belfast Street Directories).

The first occupant of No. 23 Bloomfield Road was a Mrs. Mary Murphy, but by 1911 the house had passed to a Mr. Ernest Dickinson, a Marine Engineer. The census building return of that year described No. 23 Bloomfield Road as a 1st class dwelling that consisted of 11 rooms. By the time of the cancellation of the Annual Revisions in 1930 the value of No. 23 remained at £16. However, by the First Revaluation (1935) this had been increased to £24 and the valuer noted that ownership of nos 21-31 had passed to a Mr. Joseph McMaster by 1935. McMaster continued to own No. 23 Bloomfield Road until the 1970s. The Second Revaluation (1956-72) notes that the value of the property stood at £28 by 1972.

Nos 21-31 Bloomfield Road were listed in 1984. The First Survey record described the terrace as ‘three pairs of semi-detached three-storey houses in Arts and Crafts style,’ whilst the NIEA HB Records note that the architect of the row was W. J. Moore. A Belfast-based architect, William J. Moore (c. 1873-1921) established a private practice in Ann Street by 1896. Throughout his career Moore designed both domestic and commercial properties and nos 21-31 Bloomfield Road would be amongst the earliest domestic buildings completed during his years in independent practice. The NIEA HB Records note that Moore derived his style from the work of Scottish architect Norman Shaw who ‘made a significant break from the established traditions of using either classical or gothic forms and in so doing had one of the stepping stones for the beginning of the modern [Arts & Crafts] movement’ (NIEA HB Records; DIA).

No. 23 Bloomfield Road continues to be utilised as a domestic building. In 1985 the building underwent a renovation when the rainwater goods and bargeboards were repaired, and the windows replaced with new timber sliding sashes.

References

Primary Sources

1. PRONI VAL/12/B/43/L/2-10 – Annual Revisions (1897-1930)
2. PRONI VAL/3/B/3/12 – First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1935)
3. PRONI VAL/4/B/7/25 – Second General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1956-72)
4. Belfast Street Directories (1901-1943)
5. Census of Ireland (1901; 1911)
6. First Survey Record – HB26/10/001 (c. 1980)
7. First Survey Image – HB26/10/001 (No Date)
8. NIEA HB Records – HB26/10/001B

Online Resources

1. Dictionary of Irish Architects - http://www.dia.ie

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

V. Authorship
X. Local Interest
R. Age
S. Authenticity

Evaluation

A distinctive example of a semi-detached three-storey redbrick Arts & Crafts style house with applied timber framing to 2nd storey, built in 1900 to the designs of architect William J. Moore. The exterior has retained most of its character, style and proportions. It forms part of a row and has group value with 3 pairs of semi-detached houses to the south side of Bloomfield Road.