268 Antrim Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

End of terrace three-bay two storey with attic red brick Victorian building on ‘L-shaped’ plan, constructed in 1844 having projecting gabled bay to east and two-storey rear return to west. The building is located on the west side of the Antrim Road and is one of a terrace of three being attached to HB26/47/003 B to the north. Rock-faced coursed basalt boundary wall to east at junction with Antrim Road, hedge boundary to south and rendered boundary wall to west.

Pitched natural slate roof having clay ridge tiles, overhanging eaves on paired timber brackets with scrolled ends, timber sheeted soffit. Ogee moulded uPVC gutters discharging to circular downpipes. Red brick chimneys with rendered band and coping having round terracotta chimney pots. Shared chimney to north. Square-headed openings having rendered reveals and painted stone sills with paired two over two horizontally divided timber sliding sash windows, unless otherwise stated.

Front elevation faces east and is three-bay with projecting two and half storey broken pediment gable to south-east and central entrance door approached by a flight of stone steps. Red brick walling in Flemish bond with painted raised stone plinth and raised render band at first floor string course; raised smooth ashlar quoins to projecting gable. Ground and first floor windows of projecting gable set within smooth rendered surround having scrolled brackets supporting moulded sill and cornice header. Semi-circular opening to gable apex having smooth rendered surround and one over one timber sliding sash windows. Six-panelled timber painted entrance door having fan-light over with '268 ROCKMOUNT' lettering and set within rendered surround with scrolled brackets on pilasters supporting painted cornice canopy. Single window over entrance door is two over two sliding sash.

Side elevation to south is two bay with blind openings to first floor and west opening of ground floor. Rear return is three-bay two-storey with attached single-storey garage to west. Two-storey pitched roof on projecting rendered eaves course; uPVC half-round gutters, circular downpipe and cast-iron soil vent pipe. Smooth cement rendered walling; square-headed openings with uPVC windows and door.

Rear elevation to west is two-bay with central gabled rear return. Dormer to roof of main building having hipped slate roof and timber square-headed casement window. Square-headed openings having uPVC casement windows. Flat roof to garage.

North of main building is attached to HB26/47/003B. Rear return is three-bay two-storey with attached garage extending to west.

Setting: Building is one of a terrace of three buildings, located on the west side of the Antrim Road and is attached to HB26/47/003 B to the north. The site is enclosed to the east by a rock-faced coursed basalt boundary wall having pair of square-plan piers with moulded pyramidal coping forming pedestrian gateway with decorative painted cast-iron gate inset; hedge boundary to south-side and rendered wall to west. The grounds are laid to the east and west and have tarmaced yard surface to the west and rendered brick yard walling.

Roof: Pitched natural slate
RWG: uPVC
Walls: Red brick - Flemish bond
Windows: Two over two single-glazed horizontally divided timber sliding sash

Historical information

Nos 268-272 Antrim Road, a terrace of three early-Victorian two-storey red-brick dwellings located in the townland of Skegoneill, was purportedly constructed in 1844. The Listing File held at the NIEA records that a previous owner of No. 268 Antrim Road possesses the original deeds for the terrace recording the date of construction as 1844. The Antrim Road was originally laid out in 1830 and the contemporary first edition Ordnance Survey map (1832-33) records that the area remained predominantly rural in character with no buildings having been erected at the junction of the Antrim and Cave Hill Roads. The houses were originally known as Richmond Terrace and the terrace was first recorded on the second edition Ordnance Survey map (1858) which depicted it along its current layout with gardens laid out in front of the houses. The terrace was leased to tenants by James McCaldin, a hat and cap manufacturer who held business premises in Waring Street (UTD).

No. 268 Antrim Road was known as ‘Rockmount’ and was initially valued by Griffiths Valuation (1859) at £44. The first recorded occupant of the house was Robert Young (1822-1917), a local architect and civil engineer who had established his independent practice in the city in 1852 before entering into partnership with his former pupil John Mackenzie in c. 1867 to form Young & Mackenzie, which had become the most successful architectural practice in Belfast by the end of the 19th century (DIA). Robert Young resided at No. 268 Antrim Road until c. 1865 when he moved to Fortwilliam Villas (which he also designed – see HB26/46/017A-B).

No. 268 Antrim Road was occupied by a Ms. Maria Thompson in c. 1865 although the occupants of the house were to change with frequency over the following decades. By 1901 the house was occupied by Captain Samuel Molyneux, Harbour Master with the Belfast Harbour Board. In that year the Census of Ireland described No. 268 Antrim Road as a 1st class dwelling that consisted of 13 rooms. Molyneux remained at Rockmount until his death in 1909 at which point the house passed to his widow, Sarah Ann, who continued to live at the address until c. 1915. Rockmount was briefly occupied by the Rev. A. F. Moody, minister at Cliftonville Presbyterian Church, but by the 1920s a Ms. Agnes Craig was recorded as occupant. Under the First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1936-57) ownership of No. 268 Antrim Road passed to Marion Allworthy who converted the building into a number of self-contained apartments valued at a total of £92. Allworthy continued to own No. 268 Antrim Road by the end of the Second General Revaluation (1956-72) at which time the value stood at £79. The current owner reported that the Cassidy family have owned the house for approx. 40 years. Nos 268-272 Antrim Road were listed in 1986.

Resources

Primary Sources
1. PRONI OS/6/1/61/1 – First Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1832-33)
2. PRONI OS/6/1/61/2 – Second Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1858)
3. PRONI OS/6/1/61/3 – Third Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1901-02)
4. PRONI OS/6/1/61/4 – Fourth Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1931)
5. PRONI OS/6/1/61/5 – Fifth Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1938)
6. PRONI VAL/2/B/7/3J – Griffith’s Valuation (1859)
7. PRONI VAL/12/B/43/C/1-25 – Annual Revisions (1860-1905)
8. PRONI VAL/12/B/43/F/4-7 – Annual Revisions (1905-1930)
9. PRONI VAL/3/C/3/3- First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1936-56)
10. PRONI VAL/4/B/7/1 - Second General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1956-72)
11. Ulster Town Directories (1852-1943)
12. Census of Ireland (1901; 1911)
13. PRONI Wills Catalogue (4 Sept 1909)
14. First Survey Record – HB26/47/003 (No Date)
15. NIEA HB Records – HB26/47/003A

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
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
S. Authenticity
T. Historic Importance
U. Historic Associations
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

End of terrace three-bay two storey with attic red brick Victorian building on ‘L-shaped’ plan, constructed in 1844 that is of architectural and historical significance. The building has retained many original features including original timber sash windows, rendered classical detailing such as cornice headers, broken pediment gable and scrolled brackets, all of which are intrinsic to its early Victorian character. Of historical interest is its association with Robert Young, a local architect and civil engineer, who resided here until c.1865. Young formed a partnership with his former pupil John Mackenzie in 1867 to form Young and Mackenzie, which became the most successful architectural practice in Belfast by the end of the 19th century. The house has group value with the other listed houses in this small terrace at nos. 270 & 272 Antrim Road (HB26/47/003B-C) and situated adjacent to the north entrance of Waterworks, formerly, Queen Mary's Gardens (HB26/44/027B), the building contributes greatly to the character of the area.