517 Antrim Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

End of terrace asymmetrical three-bay two-storey with attic red brick former house, built c.1883, with full-height canted bay window and three-storey return, built c.2013. Currently undergoing renovations. Rectangular on plan facing west and set back on the east side of Antrim Road.

Pitched natural slate roof with black clay ridge tiles and tall profiled red brick chimneystack rising from south gable with clay pots. Replacement steel guttering to timber fascia and steel downpipes. Two gabled wall-head dormers having timber bargeboards and finials with round-arched window having 1/1 panes to double-hung timber sash window. Segmental arched heads to window openings with red and blue gauged brick headers topped by projecting hood moulds comprised of alternating angular blue bricks. Painted projecting cills and 1/1 panes to double-hung timber sash windows.

Principal Elevation
Three-bay front elevation faces W. Full-height canted bay window to the left, central entrance and single-storey rectangular plan bay window to the right. Both bay windows have moulded brick cornices supported on yellow brick corbels. Pointed arch door opening to centre with painted central keystone and gauged black and red brick header framed by painted stone hood moulding with foliate label stops. Arch supported by two painted columns with stiff-leaf capitals rising from flush painted stone plinths. Replacement flush timber door with plain glazed fanlight over. Door opens onto concrete paved front area.

North side elevation abutted by adjoining house No.519.

Two-storey red brick rear elevation abutted by three-storey cement rendered extension, built c.2013. Replacement single-pane timber sash windows to ground and first floors, top-hung timber casement windows to extension.

Cement rendered south gable with slightly advanced double chimney breast, abutted by two-storey brick building on adjoining property.

Roof : Natural slate
RWG : Replacement steel
Walling : Red brick
Windows: Replacement timber sash

Setting:
Terminating a terrace of houses lining the east side of Antrim Road between Glandore Avenue and Glandore Gardens and set back from the road with paved front garden enclosed by rendered wall, steel fence and gates.

Historical information

No. 517 Antrim Road, a two-and-a-half-storey red-brick late-Victorian dwelling, was constructed in 1883 and was the last building to be constructed along the terrace (nos 517-533 Antrim Road – HB26/46/012A-I). 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 517-533 were constructed on the former grounds of Ashfield House, the dwelling of solicitor Thomas McClelland (UTD). Ashfield House was demolished at the turn of the 20th century but the majority of its grounds were built over during the 1870s and 1880s.

The terrace of nine buildings was originally known as Castleton Terrace and was constructed in three phases. The five Georgian-style houses at nos 519-527 Antrim Road were erected in 1878 with the adjoining nos 529-533 built in 1879. All nine structures were 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. The Annual Revisions note that all the houses were constructed for John Smith, a local builder and contractor (UTD).

No. 517 Antrim Road was constructed in a similar style to nos 529-533 (although the architect of these buildings is unknown), and was initially valued at £45 in the Annual Revisions. John Smith had the house built as his private residence and continued to reside there until his death in 1916 (PRONI Wills). In 1901 the census of Ireland described the house as a 1st class dwelling that consisted of 18 rooms. Following Smith’s death No. 517 Antrim Road passed to a Dr. W. J. Taggart who remained at the address until c. 1950. Under the First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1936-57) the value of the house was increased to £58. In c. 1950 No. 517 Antrim Road was partially converted into a private medical surgery and leased by Dr. Taggart to a Dr. J. A. McVicker who lived at the address until the 1970s. By the end of the Second Revaluation (1956-72) the value of No. 517 Antrim Road stood at £65. Nos 517-533 Antrim Road were listed in 1987. No. 517 Antrim Road was converted into office premises in the late-20th century and underwent a renovation during the Second Survey (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/3/10 - First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1936-56)
8. PRONI VAL/4/B/7/13 - Second General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1956-72)
9. Ulster Town Directories (1877-1943)
10. Census of Ireland (1901; 1911)
11. PRONI Wills Catalogue (4 Oct 1916)
12. First Survey Record – HB26/46/012 (1985)
13. NIEA HB Records – HB26/46/012A

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
H-. Alterations detracting from building
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest
R. Age
S. Authenticity

Evaluation

A two-storey with attic end-terrace late Victorian house dating from c.1883 and built in red brick with blue brick dressings with later three-storey return, built c.2013; the name of the architect is unknown. Part of a terrace of nine houses (HB26.46.012 A-I) located on the E side of Antrim Road between Glandore Gardens and Glandore Avenue that was constructed in three distinct phases. No.517 Antrim Road is particularly similar to the three houses at the North end of the terrace 529-533 Antrim Road (HB26.46.012 G, H and I), which were developed in 1789 and share Ruskinian detailing around the doorcase and windows. Indeed, John Smith, for whom No.517 was commissioned, had previously resided at No. 533 Antrim Road. The townland of Skegoneil swiftly became one of the most affluent areas in Belfast following the development of the shipbuilding, rope-making and textiles industries in the city by the mid-19th century. This terrace comprises merchant’s houses and its well-articulated fenestration and skilful brickwork make it a good example from this period. Although the recent renovations have resulted in the loss of the original staircase and other internal fabric and the rear is largely obscured by a later return, the front elevation survives in good order with a substantial amount of architectural interest. The building has group value with the other listed buildings in this terrace and forms an essential part of the late nineteenth-century character of the Antrim Road.