605 ANTRIM ROAD

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two-storey High Victorian semi-detached red-brick house, built along with attached No. 607 (HB26.46.009B) between 1874-75 in the style of John Lanyon of Belfast. Together Nos. 605 and 607 are symmetrical and form a rectangular plan facing South with projecting gabled blocks to E and W abutted by separate single storey gabled porches with main entrance doors to S and a prominent chimney to roof centre dividing the two houses. Both houses have narrowly projecting gables with two storey projecting semi-circular bays to S and separate rear returns to N. No. 605 has a rectangular rear return to N elevation of two distinct phases (recent alterations evident). Both houses are situated within a mature garden which is set back from the Antrim Road sharing a single entrance and lane leading to an area set to lawn, each house having a separate drive off main entrance lane and separate gardens to rear.

Hipped and gabled natural slate roof with black clay roll top ridge tiles and three prominent red brick chimneys (one to centre ridge shared with No. 607), having battered brick capping set above a dentilated brick course, with a mixture of buff clay and replacement red clay pots. Double eaves course, composed of a dentilated red brick cornice below bevelled edge course, having a mixture of original cast iron ogee guttering, with some replacement metal and uPVC, discharging to cast iron polygonal hoppers and circular section cast iron downpipes.

Walling is of Flemish bond red brick with horizontal bands of blue brick, a stringcourse composed of raised red brick above a header course, and stepped brick kneelers to gables. Smooth dressed red sandstone cills with leaded sandstone coping to gables and hexagonal blocks to each gable apex. Windows are generally square-headed double hung single glazed sashes, with horns, in segmental arch bevelled edge red brick surrounds, having blue brick segmental arch drip moulds supported on single nail head buff brick corbels (unless otherwise stated).

Principal elevation
The front South elevation is a mirror image of No. 607 having a central prominent chimney shared by both houses. No. 605 has two bays to SW and a two storey semi-circular bay, with half cone slated roof, which projects from gabled narrowly projecting block to S. Semi-circular bay has three square-headed windows with continuous red sandstone cills and moulded sandstone heads to both floors. Each floor of semi-circular bay has two pairs of painted cast iron colonettes, including High Victorian foliated capitals, dividing windows, with those of FF being reduced height. Sashes of semi-circular bay have straight frames and glazing.

Gabled two storey with attic level block to SW is set back from main facade and has a two storey hipped roof bay narrowly projecting to W and a single storey gabled porch to S housing a six panelled painted timber door with original brass furniture.

FF level has three blue brick bands to window level; GF has four, with a double course near GF window head level.

West elevation
Elevation has a projecting two storey gabled block with one central bay to gable of attic level having a square headed 2/2 sash window surmounted by a narrowly recessed blind semi-circular arch, including a buff brick cross to centre. Block has a two storey bay window with hipped natural slate roof; double window to FF, without drip mould, and a double window to GF with continuous drip mould and cill. Single storey extension, of unknown date, to northern end of house, recently altered with hipped natural slate roof and stepped parapet to corners only. Extension is of two clear phases with walling mainly of later stretcher bond red brick with two blue brick bands to N and W elevations; earlier phase has English garden bond brickwork and three triangular arch windows with no drip moulds.

Two storey projecting gabled block has a gabled projecting porch attached to S with two small square headed windows, without drip moulds, at FF level above either side of porch roof apex, no other windows to main facade. Rectangular section red brick chimney to SW wall with two pots. Porch has projecting eaves and an ornate moulded timber bargeboard, with detailed timber fretwork, supported on moulded timber brackets and stepped buff brick corbels. Porch with single window to W having central moulded timber colonette style mullion dividing two fixed lights, timber tracery lights above.

North elevation
The rear N elevation shows a distinct lack of decoration in comparison to the front and side with a plain double stepped eaves course and blue brick bands only to single storey extension. Fenestration pattern is irregular with square headed window openings generally having double hung sliding sashes divided by horizontal glazing bars, no drip moulds to heads. Prominent red brick chimney, dividing 605 and 607, to NE ridge with one bay to main block at NE and single half-dormer window, above a paired window, to narrowly projecting block at NW. Narrowly projecting block has prominent rectangular section chimney, with four buff clay pots, and is attached to single storey extension on N. Extension has timber glazed doors opening onto patio and single roof light to hipped roof with stepped parapet to corners.

East elevation
Building is attached on the E to No 607 with both houses being largely symmetrical and having a prominent chimney to centre of roof. Extension to N has two square headed windows to NE and a square headed door to SE.

Setting
Located on the E side of the Antrim Road both Nos. 605 and 607 are not clearly visible from the public footpath and access is through a shared entrance with modern replacement timber gates set on square section replacement red brick piers. Private lane leads to grounds also shared with No 607 with each house having a drive from the lane and separate gardens divided by mature hedging to rear. Later double red brick garage to W of No 605.

Roof: Natural slate
RWGs: Cast iron with some replacement uPVC and metal
Walling: Red brick with blue brick detailing
Windows: Timber sash

Historical information

Nos 605-607 Antrim Road, a pair of two-storey red-brick semi-detached houses located in the Somerton Road Conservation Area, were built in 1874-75. The Victorian dwellings were constructed following the breakup of the Fortwilliam Estate in the mid-19th century. Larmour states that many grand mansions were erected on the former estate in the 1860s and 1870s, although only a few now survive. Nos 605-607 Antrim Road were constructed on land owned by Victor C. Taylor, a machinist and millwright who owned the Atlas Foundry on Townsend Street and resided at Fortwilliam Terrace in the 1870s (UTD). The Annual Revisions note that nos 605-607 Antrim Road were constructed between 1874 and 1875, were initially valued at £62 each and were known as ‘Ardeen.’

The architect of nos 605-607 Antrim Road is not known with certainty. However, the First Survey (1985) suggests that the buildings were designed ‘in the style of John Lanyon.’ The son of Sir. Charles Lanyon, John Lanyon (1839-1900) began his career in partnership with his father and W. H. Lynn, forming the firm Lanyon, Lynn & Lanyon in 1860. Following the dissolution of the firm in 1872 and his father’s retirement, John Lanyon established an independent practice in Belfast. Lanyon’s association with the Fortwilliam and Somerton Road developments began in 1870 when he occupied Lisbreen House (HB26/46/008). The Dictionary of Irish Architects notes that he carried out work to a mansion on Fortwilliam Park in 1889 and it is very likely that he was also the architect of No. 71 Somerton House (HB26/46/003) which neighboured his own dwelling (DIA).

No. 605 Antrim Road was leased by Victor Taylor to John Cahoon, a local watchmaker, jeweller, optician and steel engraver whose firm, Cahoon Bros, held business premises at No. 16 Castle Place (UTD). Cahoon continued to occupy Ardeen until 1887 when the house was occupied by Victor Taylor as his personal dwelling. Following Taylor’s death in 1896, ownership of nos 605-607 Antrim Road passed to his children. The 1901 Census notes that No. 605 Antrim Road was occupied by Taylor’s son Edward (who continued to operate the iron foundry) and his daughters, Annie and Clara Taylor. In that year the census building return described No. 605 Antrim Road as a 1st class dwelling that consisted of 10 rooms. The Taylor family continued to occupy Ardeen until 1954. By the First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1936-57) ownership of the house had passed to a Mrs. Boal and the value of the building had been raised to £75. In 1954 a Mr. Frederick Arnold occupied the house and by the end of the Second Revaluation its value stood at £69.

Nos 605-607 Antrim Road were listed in 1986. The NIEA HB Records note that the house was treated for dry rot in 1986 and that an air raid shelter (which had been located in the yard of No. 605 Antrim Road from the Second World War) was removed in 1995. The original single-storey garage was replaced with the current double garage (with studio accommodation on the storey over) in c. 2003 (NIEA HB Records). Nos 605-607 Antrim Road were included in the Somerton Road Conservation Area which was designated in 2000 as ‘the Somerton area exhibits a very high standard of townscape character with many period Victorian and Edwardian properties contributing to the special quality of this suburban setting’ (DOE). During the Second Survey No. 605 Antrim Road continued to be utilised as a private dwelling.

Resources

Secondary Sources
1. Larmour, P., ‘Belfast: An illustrated architectural guide’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1987.

Primary Sources
1. PRONI OS/6/1/61/3 – Third Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1901-02)
2. PRONI OS/6/1/61/4 – Fourth Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1931)
3. PRONI OS/6/1/61/5 – Fifth Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1938)
4. PRONI VAL/12/B/5/8B-8F – Annual Revisions (1867-1897)
5. PRONI VAL/12/B/43/H/1-7 – Annual Revisions (1897-1930)
6. PRONI VAL/3/C/3/10- First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1936-72)
7. PRONI VAL/4/B/7/13 - Second General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1956-72)
8. Ulster Town Directories (1877-1943)
9. PRONI Wills Catalogue (8 Jul 1896)
10. Census of Ireland (1901; 1911)
11. First Survey record – HB26/46/009 (1985)
12. NIEA HB Records – HB26/46/009A

Online Resources
1. Dictionary of Irish Architects – http://www.dia.ie/
2. DOE Conservation Areas –

http://www.planningni.gov.uk/index/policy/supplementary_guidance/conservation/conservation_map/conservation_somerton_chichester .htm

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

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

Evaluation

A well proportioned and detailed two-storey High Victorian semi-detached red-brick house, built with No. 607 (HB26.46.009B) between 1874-75 in the style of John Lanyon, Belfast, an accomplished architect of his day. Together Nos. 605 and 607 Antrim Road form a rectangular plan each with separate N returns and red brick walling throughout. The exterior of the building is enhanced by blue brick bands and red sandstone detailing; No. 605 has a rectangular N return of two distinct phases.
Both externally and internally many original features, including sash windows, joinery and ironwork as well as the original plan form have been retained thus adding to the building's interest. The original gate screen and piers to the Antrim Road have now been replaced by modern alternatives. Overall, No. 605 has an interesting history and is a good example of its type with group value and quality detailing adding to its character.