Conservatory Cottages

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Attached multi-bay linear range of single-storey stone former dwellings, built c.1858. Rectangular on plan on an east-west axis facing north and abuts the north wall of the conservatory (HB26/13/015). The former dwellings form part of the grounds of Stormont Castle (HB26/13/014) and the wider Stormont Estate.
Mono-pitched lean-to natural slate roof with black clay ridge tiles to hipped gable (W), lead abutment flashing to the Conservatory parapet and replacement cast-iron guttering and downpipes on iron drive-through brackets fixed belowjust the projecting stone fascia. Coursed rough-hewn sandstone walling with lime pointing (unless otherwise stated). Square-headed window and door openings with voussoired sandstone heads, some of which have fallen and so appear to be slanted. Replacement 6/6 double-hung timber sash windows with part-exposed sash boxes and sandstone sills.

Front elevation (N) is built in sandstone with irregularly spaced window and door openings. Replacement timber doors are glazed to the upper half, 3 panes wide by 3 panes high, and sheeted to the lower half. To the east end is a group of three segmental-headed window openings formed in voussoired sandstone with fixed multi-pane timber windows. Six octagonal stone chimney pots, arranged in pairs, peep over the reverse side of the parapet at regular intervals, as does the octagonal glazed lantern with crocketted pinnacles and pineapple finial which forms the entrance to the conservatory behind. When viewed in juxtaposition with these ornate details, the terrace of single storey dwellings appear simple and vernacular in style.

The east gable is blank with painted rendered walling which extends to the ridge.

The south elevation forms the internal north wall to Stormont Conservatory (HB26/13/015). The walls is built in handmade red brick to the lower half, laid in English garden wall bond, random coursed squared sandstone to the upper half with a series of vertical machine-made brick strips inserted at approximately 1m intervals.

The west gable is blank and constructed from random sandstone, which is not coursed. The end of the central spine wall is exposed up to the full abutment height at this gable.

Roof Natural slate
RWG Cast-iron
Walling Coursed rough-hewn sandstone
Windows Replacement timber sash 6/6

Setting:
The terrace of former dwellings abuts the north wall of Stormont Conservatory (HB26/13/015) to the northwest of Stormont Castle (HB26/13/014). They now serve as offices to Stormont Estate and front onto a bitmac driveway with parking bays opposite; the driveway leads to the Parliament Buildings to the northwest (HB26/13/013).

Historical information

The row of single-storey slated worker’s dwellings, located to the rear of the gothic-style conservatory at Stormont (HB26/13/015) to the northwest of Stormont Castle (HB26/13/014), was constructed between 1834 and 1860. The building was not depicted on the first edition Ordnance Survey map (1834) but appeared on the second edition in 1860.

Stormont Castle, a three-storey former gentleman’s mansion located within the Stormont Estate, had been constructed around 1830 for the Rev. John Cleland (1755-1834). The Rev. Cleland was the rector of Newtownards and had acquired the Stormont Estate by marrying the daughter of the previous owner. Gallagher states that Cleland was described as ‘a fearsome magistrate and man of dubious reputation [as] much of the wealth which allowed him to develop the land and property at Stormont was allegedly ill-gotten’ (Gallagher, p. 22). Cleland’s son Samuel Cleland took over the Stormont Estate following his father’s death in 1834 but was killed whilst supervising the demolition of a wall in the grounds in 1842. Samuel Cleland’s widow, Elizabeth, took over the Stormont Estate following her husband’s death and continued to reside there until c. 1860.

A major alteration and extension of the mansion was undertaken in 1858 which gave the building its current Scots Baronial appearance. The second edition Ordnance Survey map (1860) records that the conservatory and workers cottages had been constructed by the time of this extension but it is possible that the building dates from earlier. Larmour suggests that the gothic conservatory was constructed in the late-1830s but renovations of the building undertaken in 2004 and 2009 found the interior to be distinctly Victorian in nature. Further, the Natural Stone Database records that the building was constructed with the same locally-quarried Scrabo sandstone that was utilised for the extension of Stormont Castle. A construction date of c. 1858 would suggest that Thomas Turner was the architect of the conservatory and cottages. According to the Dictionary of Irish Architects Turner did not design any overtly gothic buildings but did design a number of gate screens and garden features and also submitted an unsuccessful entry for the design of Crystal Palace which was constructed to house the Great Exhibition of London in 1851. Turner’s father, Richard Turner, was also employed as a contractor for the construction of Charles Lanyon’s glasshouse in Botanic Garden (NSD; DIA).

In 1860-61 Griffith’s Valuation (1860-61) set the combined value of Stormont Castle and its outbuildings at £350. The conservatory remained jointly valued with the adjoining mansion throughout its history making it difficult to gauge its individual value. The single-storey conservatory was divided into two sections. The southern half of the building was utilised as a greenhouse and an outbuilding to Stormont Castle whilst the northern section was utilised as workers cottages. The Natural Stone Database states that the cottages each possess a ‘square-topped doorway and two rectangular sash windows’ (NSD). The 1911 census of Ireland recorded that the cottages were 2nd class dwellings of between four and six rooms each that were occupied by estate workers employed as gardeners and coachmen. The First Survey Record (1985) notes that, following the purchase of the Stormont estate by the Northern Ireland Government, the glass and timber sections of the conservatory were replaced in the 1930s. The conservatory was listed in 1987.

Following the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 and subsequent St. Andrew’s Agreements (2006-07), Stormont Castle has been used as the offices of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister with the conservatory utilised for state and social functions. The NIEA HB Records note that an inspection of the building c. 2002 found rot within the timbers. In 2004 the single-storey glasshouses were demolished and carefully replaced with the current Victorian-style wings. The central gothic sandstone building was retained. The Northern Ireland Executive website notes that, following the reconstruction, a portion of the southern section of the building continued to be used as a greenhouse whilst the remainder of the building (including the former worker’s cottages on the northern side) now ‘incorporates state-of-the-art facilities with modern office accommodation and a well-equipped meeting venue.’ As part of an interior renovation of the building, carried out in 2009, a new floor was installed within the southern section of the conservatory. The Victorian-style tiled floor was installed by Armatile Architectural (Northern Ireland Executive; Armatile Architectural website).

References

Primary Sources
1. PRONI OS/6/3/5/1 – First Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1834)
2. PRONI OS/6/3/5/2 – Second Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1860)
3. PRONI OS/6/3/5/3 – Third Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1901-02)
4. PRONI OS/6/3/5/4 – Fourth Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1919-20)
5. PRONI OS/6/3/5/5 – Fifth Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1938-39)
6. PRONI VAL/1/A/3/5 – Townland Valuation Plan (c. 1830)
7. PRONI VAL/2/B/3/17 – Griffith’s Valuation (1860-61)
8. PRONI VAL/12/B/17/8A-F – Annual Revisions (1864-1929)
9. PRONI VAL/12/B/17/5A - Annual Revisions (1923-1929)
10. PRONI VAL/3/B/4/4 – First General Revaluation of Northern Ireland (1935)
11. PRONI VAL/4/B/3/21 – Second General Revaluation of Northern Ireland (1956-1972)
12. Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland: Vol. 7, Co. Down II (1832-34; 1837)
13. Lewis’ Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (1837)
14. Ulster Town Directories (1843-1943)
15. First Survey Record – HB26/13/015 (1985)
16. First Survey Image – HB26/13/015 (No Date)
17. NIEA HB Records – HB26/13/015

Secondary Sources
1. ‘Stormont Castle’ Belfast: Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister, c. 2009.
2. ‘Parliament Buildings Stormont: The building, its setting, uses and restoration 1922-1998’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1999.
3. Gallagher, J., ‘Stormont: The house on the hill’ Belfast: Booklink, 2008.
4. Larmour, P., ‘Belfast: An illustrated architectural guide’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1987.

Online Resources
1. Dictionary of Irish Architects - http://www.dia.ie
2. Natural Stone Database - http://www.stonedatabase.com//stone_types.cfm?stc=45
3. Northern Ireland Executive - http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/index/history-and-tour.htm
4. Armatile Architectural –
http://www.armatilearchitectural.com/Projects/ProjectSpecific/20/HER/stormont-glass-house.aspx

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
S. Authenticity
T. Historic Importance
V. Authorship
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Attached multi-bay linear range of single-storey stone former dwellings that were built for workers c.1858 and although unconfirmed, it is thought that Thomas Turner was probably the architect. Extensively renovated with fabric to the exterior replaced with appropriate materials and to a high standard, the vernacular quality of this simple structure has been retained and forms an intrinsic part of the wider Stormont Estate (HB26.13.013 - 021). It has group value with the other listed buildings in the estate and specifically with the Conservatory (HB 26.13.015) which it abuts.