Rosemount House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Terraced two-bay three-storey with attic red brick and stucco former house, built in 1872, to the designs of R. Kelly, as one of seven similar houses (HB26/44/029A-G). Together with the adjoining No.422 Antrim Rd to the N (HB 26.44.029D), the rear of this building was demolished c.2005 with façade retained and modern development built behind. Rectangular on plan facing east with replacement three-storey rear return spanning across the rear elevation of both properties. Set back on the west side of Antrim Road with a shared bitmac driveway set behind a low rendered wall and series of mature trees. Small enclosed rear yard.

Pitched artificial slate roof set behind stucco parapet wall with deep moulded cornice and plain frieze. Replacement painted rendered dummy chimney stacks with painted pots to both party walls. Replacement metal downpipe breaking through parapet wall to the north end, metal rainwater goods to rear. Red brick walling laid in Flemish bond with cement pointing, continuous moulded string courses at first and second floor sill levels. Machine-made red brick walling laid in stretcher bond to rear and return. Square-headed window openings with decorative stucco surrounds, moulded sills and replacement single-pane timber sash windows with ogee horns throughout.

Two-bay three-storey east front elevation has rendered three-sided canted bay window to the ground floor with continuous masonry sill, plat band and shallow cornice to parapet. Decorative painted lugged architrave surrounds to the second floor with bracketed sills. First floor windows are framed by scrolled foliate console brackets supporting hood cornice and moulded sill supported on stepped brackets. Gauged brick to round-headed door opening to the left bay with projecting bull-nosed surround. Replacement painted timber panelled door flanked by fluted Ionic columns supporting dentilated lintel cornice with plain glazed fanlight. Door opens onto concrete paved platform with replacement nosed granite steps set at an angle and universal access ramp enclosed by a low redbrick wall and steel handrail.

South elevation abutted by adjoining house No.422 (HB26/44/029D).

Rear elevation rebuilt having a gabled-ended three-storey redbrick return, all c.2006.

North side elevation abutted by adjoining house No.426 (HB26/44/029F).

Roof Artificial slate
RWG Replacement metal
Walling Redbrick / Stucco
Windows Replacement timber sash

Historical information

Nos 416-428 Antrim Road, a terrace of seven three-storey red-brick buildings located along the west side of the Antrim Road, were constructed 1872. The Antrim Road was originally laid out in 1830. The second edition Ordnance Survey map (1858) records that the land to the north of the Belfast Waterworks and the Limestone Road remained predominantly rural in character by the 1850s. With the increase in Belfast’s population and the development of the shipbuilding, rope-making and textiles industries in the town, by the mid-19th century a number of gentlemen’s mansions and wealthy merchant’s houses had been constructed in the townland of Skegoneill which swiftly became one of the most affluent areas in Belfast. Nos 416-428 Antrim Road were constructed on the grounds of Hopefield House, a two-storey six-bay mansion that was occupied by the Sinclair family. The majority of the grounds were built over during the 1870s (nos 344-354 Antrim Road were also constructed on this parcel of land in 1877 – see HB26/44/028A-F).

Nos 416-428 Antrim Road was known as ‘Fortwilliam Terrace.’ The Annual Revisions note that the terrace was leased by Samuel Lawther, the manager of Samuel Lawther & Co. (local coal importers, ship and insurance brokers with business premises on Corporation Square) who resided on Duncairn Street (UTD). The terrace was designed by Redfern Kelly (1845-1928), a Belfast-based engineer who predominantly carried out contracts for the Belfast Harbour Commissioners. The Dictionary of Irish Architects notes that Kelly was responsible for the deepening of the Victoria Channel, the reconstruction of the Alexandra Graving Dock (following its collapse in 1905) and the construction of the Thompson Graving Dock. Despite the predominance of industrial contracts, Kelly also designed a Masonic Hall in Larne and the Murlough Cottages in Dundrum (DIA).

The Annual Revisions record that No. 422 Antrim Road was initially valued at £40 and was first occupied by John Boyd, a branch inspector for Northern Bank. The terrace was depicted on the third edition Ordnance Survey map (1901-02) which shows that the entire area had been developed with terraced streets by the turn of the 20th century. No. 422 Antrim Road lay vacant during both the 1901 and 1911 census but the building was undoubtedly similar to its neighbours and was described as a 1st class dwelling that consisted of 14 rooms. By the 1930s the house was occupied by Dr. J. S. Lee who remained at the address until at least the 1970s. Under the First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1936-57) the value of No. 422 Antrim Road was increased to £46 but this was slightly raised to £48 by the end of the Second Revaluation (1956-72).

Nos 416-428 Antrim Road was listed in 1987. The NIEA HB Records note that No. 422 Antrim Road, along with the adjoining No. 424, suffered fire damage and had fallen into an advanced state of dereliction by c. 1995. A restoration, carried out in 2005, resulted in the loss of all original interior features although the original Victorian facades of nos 422-424 Antrim Road were retained. The restoration of the building was carried out to convert the site into a drug abuse rehabilitation hostel and included the construction of the shared two-storey rear return (NIEA HB Records).

Resources

Primary Sources
1. PRONI OS/6/1/61/2 – Second Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1858)
2. PRONI OS/6/1/61/3 – Third Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1901-02)
3. PRONI OS/6/1/61/4 – Fourth Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1931)
4. PRONI OS/6/1/61/5 – Fifth Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1938)
5. PRONI VAL/12/B/43/C/7-25 – Annual Revisions (1863-1905)
6. PRONI VAL/12/B/43/F/4-7 – Annual Revisions (1905-1930)
7. PRONI VAL/3/C/3/3- First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1936-56)
8. PRONI VAL/4/B/7/1 - Second General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1956-72)
9. Ulster Town Directories (1877-1943)
10. Census of Ireland (1901; 1911)
11. First Survey Record – HB26/44/029 (No Date)
12. NIEA HB Records – HB26/44/029D-E

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

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

V. Authorship
X. Local Interest
R. Age

Evaluation

Mid terrace two-bay three-storey with attic red brick and stucco mid-Victorian house, built in 1872, as one of seven similar houses that were originally known as 'Fortwilliam Terrace' (HB26/44/029A-G) and designed by Redfern Kelly, a prominent engineer known for his work on behalf of Belfast Harbour Commissioners. No.424 Antrim Road, along with its neighbour (No.422 HB26/44/029D) was demolished behind its original façade following fire damage c.1995 when substantial original fabric was lost. This damage greatly undermines the architectural value of the property, however, the façade has been restored using historically appropriate materials. Its retention provides value to the coherent appearance of a nineteenth-century terrace by keeping the rhythm and form intact.
The slightly elevated terrace is set back on the west side of Antrim Road and screened by a series of mature trees behind a low wall. Its distinctive appearance, with vertical emphasis, graduated fenestration and restrained neo-classical stucco mouldings exemplifies the formal aesthetics of the time. Prior to its development, the surrounding area of Skegoneil had been rural but following a period of rapid industrial expansion and population growth, many merchants were persuaded to move out of the overcrowded inner city. A similar terrace, also thought to have been designed by Kelly, formerly known as Castleton Terrace (HB26.46.012 B-F) and built in 1878, sits almost directly opposite on the east side of the Antrim Road. Despite the substantial demolition at the rear, this building has group value with the other listed building's in this terrace.