272 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 one of a terrace of three located on the west side of the Antrim Road and is attached to HB26/47/003B to south. Rock-faced coursed basalt boundary wall to east at junction with Antrim Road, hedge boundary to south and rendered boundary wall to west and north.

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 chimney to south. 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 north-east and central entrance door approached by a flight of concrete steps and brick path leading to a further two nosed steps at doorway. 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. Square-headed opening to gable apex having rendered reveals and timber casement window. Six-panelled timber painted entrance door having fan-light over 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 north is two bay with blind opening to east side of first floor. Rear return is three-bay two-storey having pitched roof, uPVC half-round gutters and circular downpipe. Red brick walling. Square-headed openings with uPVC windows. Single-storey building attached to west having flat roof.

Rear elevation to west has semi-circular opening to apex of gable with pair of gabled rear returns and single-storey extension with flat roof. Square-headed openings with painted rendered stone having timber casement windows.

Side elevation to south of main building is attached to HB26/47/003B. Rear return is three-bay two-storey with attached single-storey outbuilding extending to west.

Setting: Building is one of a terrace of three buildings locted on the west side of the Antrim Road and is attached to HB26/47/003 B to the south. Gardens and driveway to east. 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; rendered wall with metal fencing to north and rendered wall to west, mature hedge to south. Rear yard to west enclosed to south with original rendered brick wall. Lean-to shed on south yard wall; painted boarded timber with corrugated tin roof; single boarded timber door with tripartite glazed panel; clerestory timber window(6 pane); replacement gutter.

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. 272 Antrim Road was known as Richmond House and was initially valued by Griffith’s Valuation (1859) at £55. The first recorded occupant of the address was a Major James Kenneth Mackenzie who resided at the address until 1866 when George Wilson Kyle, a hosiery and glove merchant with premises on Bridge Street, took possession of the house. Kyle continued to reside at Richmond House until his death in 1868 at which time it passed to his widow Catherin Kyle (PRONI Wills). Mrs. Kyle remained at No. 272 Antrim Road in 1901 when the Census of Ireland described Richmond House as a 1st class building that consisted of 13 rooms. Following Kyle’s death in c. 1910 the house briefly passed to James Pyper, principal of the Belfast Mercantile College, but by 1918 the Rev. James Knowles of Castleton Presbyterian Church had taken possession of the site. The Rev. Knowles died in 1927 at which time the house was occupied by a Ms. Emily Laverty who continued to reside at the site until the 1950s. Ownership of the house had passed to Marion Allworthy under the First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1936-57) at which time the value of the building was increased to £60. In c. 1956 the building was acquired by the Trustees of Carlisle Memorial Methodist Church as a manse for the Rev. A. W. Gamble. By the end of the Second Revaluation (1956-72) the total rateable value of No. 272 Antrim Road stood at £60. 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 (23 Nov 1868; 27 Jul 1927)
14. First Survey Record – HB26/47/003 (No Date)
15. NIEA HB Records – HB26/47/003C

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

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
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, end of terrace three-bay two storey with attic red brick Victorian building on ‘L-shaped’ plan, constructed in 1844. The building has retained many original features including timber sliding sash windows and classical detailing such as cornice headers, broken pediment gable and scrolled brackets throughout, all of which enhance the character and appearance of the façade and are intrinsic to its early Victorian character. The house has group value with the other listed houses in this small terrace at nos. 268 Antrim Road (HB26/47/003A) & 270 Antrim Road (HB26/47/003B) 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.