4 Malone Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A three-storey three-bay over basement with attic red brick former house, built c.1890, now in commercial use, located at the north end of Malone Road Lower. The plan form is somewhat irregular; the principal elevation has a full-height projecting bay to either side: canted to left and rectangular to right with chamfered corners. The south-east corner is wedge-shaped, and projects particularly sharply with a thin curved arris. The stairwell also projects to rear, is canted and hung with fishscale weather-slating from first half-landing level. The north gable is largely abutted by the adjoining building, No.2 Malone Road, with which it is contemporary and shares detailing.

The roof is pitched natural slate, hipped over projecting bays, with ridge crestings, terracotta finials and original profile cast iron gutters resting on a projecting brick cornice embellished with quadrant and egg-and-dart cornicing over a pale stone Lombardic frieze. Gables rise to large chimneystacks, each having multiple pots. Walling is red/orange brick in Flemish bond, having a variety of gauged brick, red sandstone and terracotta embellishments; windows rest on continuous sandstone cills, each extended to form a string course, and each floor is delineated above window level by a heavy string course detailed as the cornice. Basement walling is sandstone, rock-faced and coursed to right bay, and ashlar to left bay. Windows are generally original 1/1 timber sash with horns, with original glazing evident to third floor only; those to projecting bays are paired and have sandstone surrounds. Those to upper floors are segmental headed; those to ground floor and basement are square-headed (the latter covered with mesh screens). The original entrance door has been replaced with a contemporary glazed entrance, accessed by a flight of modern granite steps with glazed balustrade.

The principal elevation faces west and comprises a central entrance, with single windows over (that to second floor is narrower), slightly offset to left. Projecting bays each have a pair of windows to each floor and the canted left bay is also lit to each cheek. The basement flat is accessed beneath the exterior steps via a modern shuttered door.

The exposed section of the north gable is blank.

The rear elevation is abutted centrally by the stairwell, which is lit to east and south only; the north cheek is abutted by a bathroom projection. There appears to be a tall round-headed opening to left of the stairwell, which has been infilled, and there has been some replacement of windows with timber casement or fixed pane glazing. The attic is lit to rear by uPVC dormers.

The south gable is blank, and is abutted by a stepped red brick wall which encloses a car park accessed via Stranmillis Road.

Setting:
Occupying a prominent location in Queens conservation area, near the junction of Malone Road and Stranmillis Road, directly opposite Methodist College and in close proximity to the Ulster Museum and Queen’s University. It is part of a wedge-shaped group of buildings, projecting above the corner building in front, and so forms a prominent part of the complex that terminates University Road at the junction. The building is set slightly back from street level with raised paved platforms flanking the entrance steps, which are terminated by dwarf brick piers with stone caps carved with a palmette motif. The basement well is enclosed by original wrought iron railings to left, retaining original cast sunflower motif; the railings to right are modern replacements resembling the original style.

Roof: Slate
RWG: Cast iron
Walling: Red brick
Windows: Timber sash

Historical information

First shown on the third edition OS map (1901), the house was built c.1890 to the designs of James J. Phillips, who was also responsible for the similar yet more ornately styled ‘Abbotsford’ at No.2 (built c. 1889), which occupies the corner site at the junction between the Stranmillis and Malone Roads. The second edition OS map shows that the wedge-shaped site formerly contained a small house and garden occupied by a James Cunningham but this had been replaced by ‘Abbotsford’ house at No.2 by 1889, which was soon followed by the addition of No.4 in 1891 (Annual Revisions 1882-97). Each of the properties were noted as comprising a house, conservatory, yard and small garden, with No.4 valued at £52 and No.2 at £67. These annual Revision records paired with the contemporary Belfast Street Directories show that both No.2 and No.4 were built for a Robert Walsh, who was a chartered accountant of Johnston and Walsh, in central Belfast (later Robert Walsh and Sons). Both houses appear to have remained vacant until c.1906, when Robert Walsh was noted as the occupier of ‘Ashestiel’ at No.4, and Abbotsford was occupied by a Thomas Kennedy and a Mrs Wheeler (Annual Revisions 1897-1915). Both properties were subject to an increase in valuation in 1906, with No.4 rising to £70 and No.2 to £82, however no alterations to either of the buildings are noted in the valuation documents. Although No.2 remained a single residence until at least 1957, the annual revisions of the First General Revaluation (1936-57) show that by 1936 No.4 had been subdivided into flats, with a H. Mussen as lessor of the ground floor flat and the remainder leased by a Walter Morton. Street Directories show that by the 1960s the building was utilised as commercial offices, with a quantity surveyor’s office and two architectural firms occupying each of the main floors.

As the old road leading south from Belfast, this area of the Malone Road was developed from the mid 19th century on, by wealthy citizens who sought to build their grand villas and residences away from the increasingly overcrowded and industrial nature of the city. The Annual Revision records c. 1930, show that this section of the Malone Road formed part of University Road until c.1931. Following the end of the Second World War the area experienced a change of function with a departure from residential use towards more office based accommodation for commercial, educational and institutional purposes. This change of use was reflected in the alterations made to the built fabric of the former house at No.4, with reconfiguration of the entrance hall, steps and the replacement of the original doorcase with a fully glazed opening and canopy. The basement of No.4 has remained as a self-contained residential flat.

Resources
Primary Resources
1. OS/6/1/60/2 Second edition OS map (1857)
2. OS/6/1/60/3 Third Edition OS map (1901)
3. OS/6/1/60/4 Fourth Edition OS map (1920-22)
4. PRONI VAL/12/B/43/A/14 Annual Revisions (1882-97)
5. PRONI VAL/12/B/43/A/27 Annual Revisions (1897-1905)
6. PRONI VAL/12/B/43/A/42 Annual Revisions (1906-15)
7. PRONI VAL/12/B/43/A/45 Annual Revisions (1915-30)
8. PRONI VAL/3/B/3/1-2 First General Revaluation (1935)
9. PRONI VAL/3/C/3/7 Annual Revisions of First General Revaluation (1936-57)
10. Belfast Street Directories (1887-1970)

Secondary Sources
1. Dixon, Hugh, Evans, David “Historic Buildings and Groups of Buildings in the Vicinity of Queen’s University Belfast” UAHS, (1975)
2. Larmour, Paul “The Architectural Heritage of Malone and Stranmillis” UAHS (1991)
Online Sources
1. Dia.ie
2. CA Appraisal (http://www.planningni.gov.uk/index/policy/supplementary_guidance/conservation/conservation_map/conservation-queens.pdf)

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

S. Authenticity
V. Authorship
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

4 Malone Road is an attractive, well-proportioned red brick former townhouse, built c.1890 as one of a pair with its neighbour No.2 as part of the ongoing development of south Belfast in the latter part of the nineteenth century. The group is particularly well-sited, located directly at the hub of south Belfast's three main thoroughfares - Stranmillis, Malone and University Roads. Although No 4 sits behind its neighbour No.2, which dominates the corner, the wedge-shaped configuration of the group, coupled with tall proportions and considered use of projecting bays employed at No.4, means that the building is a prominent element of the group, visible from some distance along the axis of University Road. The building is highly representative of its period, with irregular frontage, and built in Belfast's characteristic red brick with red sandstone and terracotta detailing. Dwarf red brick piers with elaborate stone caps flanking the stepped entrance from the street further augment this character, as does historic railings with sunflower motif to one side of the basement. Built as a pair with No.2, the group have some unifying features, but are individually detailed, to good architectural effect. Conversion to commerical use has been sympathetic, with minimal alteration to internal layout and fabric, although the loss of the original entrance door is regrettable. Fittings and fixtures are of notably high quality, and decorative elements throughout are representative of the stock-source catalogue items that were popular at the time. The building makes an important contribution to the Queens Conservation Area, and this prominent corner group.