270 Antrim Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Mid-terrace three-bay two storey with attic red brick Victorian building, constructed in 1844; symmetrical front elevation facing east having pair of single-storey canted bays flanking central doorway 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, attached to HB26/47/003A to south and HB26/47/003C to north. Rock-faced coursed basalt boundary wall to east 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 moulded coping having round terracotta chimney pots. Shared chimneys with adjoining chimneys to south and north. Square-headed openings having rendered reveals with painted stone sills with two over two horizontally divided timber sliding sash windows, unless otherwise stated.

Front elevation faces east and is three-bay with single-storey canted bays to north and south having hipped roof with moulded parapet and ogee moulded uPVC gutter. 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 north and south corners. First floor windows over canted bay are paired. Six-panelled timber painted entrance door having margin paned fan-light over with stained glass panel to centre and set within rendered surround with scrolled brackets on pilasters supporting moulded cornice canopy. First floor window over entrance door having two over two sliding sash window.

Side elevation to south is attached to HB26/47/003A. Rear return is three-bay, two-storey plus attic, with pitched slate roof on projecting eaves course with uPVC gutters and downpipes. Cement rendered walls with square-headed openings having uPVC casement windows.

Rear elevation to west is two-storey with attic and central gabled rear return. Metal roof-lights to pitched roof of main building. Square-headed openings having six over six timber sliding sash windows. Venetian window to second floor of gabled return having uPVC window.

Side elevation to north of main building is attached to HB26/47/003 C. Rear return is two-bay two-storey plus attic.

Setting: Building is the mid-terrace of a group of three on a slightly elevated site located on the west side of the Antrim Road and is attached to HB26/47/003A to south, HB26/47/003 C to north; gardens to east, hedge boundary to south and north and rendered boundary wall to west. 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 gateway with replacement decorative painted cast-metal gate inset.

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. 270 Antrim Road was known as ‘Ivy Dene’ and was initially valued at £37 by Griffith’s Valuation in 1859. The first recorded occupant of the house was a Captain John H. De Vries who resided at the address until 1866 when a Ms. Jane Bennett came into possession of the building. Jane Bennett remained at Ivy Dene until the turn of the 20th century. By 1901 the house had passed to John Lawrence Clancy, a local insurance agent, and in that year the census building return described No. 270 Antrim Road as a 1st class dwelling that consisted of 13 rooms. Ivy Dene was occupied by a Mrs. A. Jarman between 1910 and her death in 1925 at which time the house passed to Beatrice O’Neill who continued to reside at the site until 1970. Ownership of No. 270 Antrim Road had passed to Marion Allworthy under the First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1936-57) at which time the value of the dwelling had been increased to £44. In 1970 Allworthy converted the former private dwelling into a number of self-contained apartments, the value of which stood at £66 by the end of the Second General Revaluation (1956-72). 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 (2 Jan 1925)
14. First Survey Record – HB26/47/003 (No Date)
15. NIEA HB Records – HB26/47/003B

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

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
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
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A well-proportioned and detailed mid-terrace, three-bay, two storey with attic red brick Victorian building, constructed in 1844, of architectural and historical significance. The building has retained many original features including horizontal-paned timber sliding sash windows and red brick chimneys. The canted bays and exposed rafter ends are early-Victorian features which together with the classcial detailing such as the rendered quoins, cornice header and scrolled brackets, enhance the character and appearance of the façade. The house has group value with the other listed houses in this small terrace at nos. 268 Antrim Road (HB26/47/003A) & 272 Antrim Road (HB26/47/003C) 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.