25 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 west 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. 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. Opes to front and side elevations are square-headed with stop-chamfer jambs to brick openings on the principal elevations and original 1/1 double-hung timber sash windows with ogee horns.

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

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

The rear elevation has a two-storey redbrick return with pitched natural slate roof, roll top red-clay ridge tiles and a single course of decorative bricks. Although no access to rear was granted, door and window openings seem to be square-headed with replacement top-hung timber casement windows.

East side elevation abutted by adjoining house No. 27 (HB26/10/001D).

The front yard is divided into a paved pathway and a modest landscaped garden enclosed by redbrick wall topped by metal railings; square redbrick gate piers with stone capping supporting a timber 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
Walling: red brick
RWG: cast iron
Windows: timber sash

Historical information

No. 25 Bloomfield Road, a three-storey Arts & Craft style dwelling, was constructed in 1900 along with the adjoining nos 21-31 (HB26/10/001A-F). No. 25 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. 25 Bloomfield Road was a Mr. G. E. Monroe, an oil merchant, however by 1911 the house was occupied by Thomas Agnew, a solicitor. In that year the census building return described No. 25 Bloomfield Road as a 1st class dwelling that consisted of 11 rooms. The value of No. 25 remained at £16 at the end of the Annual Revisions in 1930, however by the First Revaluation (1935) this had been increased to £24; the valuer noted that ownership of nos 21-31 had passed to a Mr. Joseph McMaster by 1935. McMaster continued to own No. 25 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 Moore completed during his years as an 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. 25 Bloomfield Road continues to be utilised as a domestic building; the NIEA HB Records note that repairs to the roof were carried out in 1987 and in 2012 the roof valleys were replaced. They also make use of terracotta moldings made at the time in Belfast (NIEA HB Records).

References

Primary Sources
1. PRONI OS/6/3/4/2 – Second Edition Ordnance Survey map 1858
2. PRONI OS/6/3/4/3 – Third Edition Ordnance Survey map 1902
3. PRONI OS/6/3/4/4 – Fourth Edition Ordnance Survey map 1920-21
4. PRONI OS/6/3/4/5 – Fifth Edition Ordnance Survey map 1931
5. PRONI VAL/12/B/43/L/2-10 – Annual Revisions (1897-1930)
6. PRONI VAL/3/B/3/12 – First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1935)
7. PRONI VAL/4/B/7/25 – Second General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1956-72)
8. Ulster Town Directories (1901-1943)
9. Census of Ireland (1901; 1911)
10. First Survey Record – HB26/10/001 (c. 1980)
11. First Survey Image – HB26/10/001 (No Date)
12. NIEA HB Records – HB26/10/001C

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

Semi-detached three-storey redbrick Arts & Crafts style house with applied timber framing 2nd storey, dating from 1900 and most likely designed by architect W.J. Moore. Forms part of a row and has group value with 3 pairs of semi-detached houses to the south side of Bloomfield road. The exterior has retained most of its character, style and proportions.