216-220 Limestone Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A terrace of three similar Victorian two-storey three-bay houses, built c.1868 to designs by an unknown architect. Rectangular plan form facing NE with a later three storey extension to rear, which extends from the roof ridge into the rear yard and connects each of the three original dwellings (Nos 216, 218 and 220), now collectively known as Lisieux House. Number 220 (HB26.48.003D) to the NW end of the terrace is similar in style and remains a separate building. The terrace is situated on an elevated site to the S of Limestone Road and to the W of Newington Street.

Pitched natural slate roof with flat roof to later S block extending from ridge. Metal RWGs with ogee guttering discharging to circular section downpipes. Saw tooth double eaves course to NE elevation and SE gable. Rectangular section two stage red brick chimneys, with replacement terracotta pots and two separate yellow brick courses, divide original three bay dwellings. Each house has two dormers to NE with timber bargeboards terminating in cicular lobes at eaves, slate cheeks and semi-circular headed casement windows.

Principal elevation
The NE elevation is composed of three two-storey three-bay terrace houses having square section chimneys to partition walls and two dormer windows at roof level to NE. Each house has three bays with a central doorcase flanked by a projecting single storey semi-circular flat roofed bay and a tripartite window at GF; first and third houses (nos. 216 & 220) have semi-circular bay located to SE side of doorcase with central house (no. 218) having semi-circular bay to NW. Upper floors of each house are symmetrical with a central semi-circular headed window flanked by tripartite windows.

Windows are generally tripartite with central window flanked by narrower windows; red brick segmental arch bevelled openings with painted smooth rendered stop-chamfered mullions and springers. Generally timber double hung two over two pane sashes with window horns and horizontal glazing bars. Flemish bond red brick walling with painted smooth render quoins to NE corner; all set on chamfered red brick plinth course.

Each house has a central doorcase and a projecting semi-circular single storey bay with three double hung sash windows with curved glass and horizontal glazing bars. Continuous painted cill course to semi circular bay with Flemish bond red brick walling; painted plaster above window head level with deep moulded projecting cornice to parapets. Deep cornice extends along facade of each house to form door entablature with a raised brick string course above other GF windows.

Segmental arch opening to doorcase with fanlight, sidelights and replacement square-headed timber door with glazed upper panels. Each doorway has a moulded plaster surround surmounted by an entablature which is set on scrolled console brackets with a raised keystone to centre and ornate mouldings to spandrels. Doorways to nos. 216 and 220 house are now redundant with access to building through door of central house (no. 218). Banded painted plaster cill course to FF windows with each house having a central semi circular headed window flanked by single tripartite windows.

South eastern elevation
Gabled end to terrace with double saw tooth eaves course and chimney at apex. Smooth rendered and painted plinth course with red brick walling above. Three segmental arch window openings with metal grills to centre of gable end in graduated fenestration. Later red brick boundary walling laid in stretcher bond to yard SE and along rear access route to SW. Three storey block extending from ridge of original terrace to SW which is set back by one bay of the original end terrace house (no. 216). Block extension has painted smooth render walling with sections of stretcher bond red brick; square headed uPVC casement windows with concrete cills. Block has two storey section abutted to SE and SW with a roof top balcony enclosed by metal railings and is accessed by square headed uPVC balcony doors at third floor level.

South western elevation
Large three storey multiple bay block extension, built in 2003, which links nos. 216, 218 and 220 Limestone Road. Block begins one bay in from SE gable with replacement walling and square-headed window to SE elevation of original house. Central section of 2003 block has stretcher bond red brick walling flanked by sections of painted smooth render. Two storey three bay section with painted smooth render and metal balcony railings narrowly projects at W end. L-shaped two storey section with balcony abutted to S of main block. Single balconette with metal railings to red brick section of centre block.

North western elevation
Elevation abuts no 222 Limestone Road (HB26.48.003D)

Setting
A terrace of similar houses, Lisieux House now incorporates numbers 216, 218 and 220 with number 222 (HB26.48.003D) still being separate at the NW end. Set back from the main road on a raised site with a modest sized garden to front, with an enclosed yard to rear. Painted smooth rendered finish dwarf retaining wall to front in same style as original section of wall at E, topped by replacement metal railings set on chamfered concrete coping. Replacement metal pedestrian gate with simple flattened finials and horizontal rail on square section metal posts. Principal entrance to building is approached by a short flight of steps with paved path and accessibility ramp leading to entrance of central house (no 218).

Roof: Natural slate
RWGs: Metal
Walling: Flemish bond red brick with smooth painted render detailing
Windows: Double hung timber sashes with uPVC to SW

Historical information

Nos 216-222 Limestone Road, a terrace of four two-storey three-bay red-brick dwellings located in the townland of Town Parks, was constructed in c. 1868. Linder states that the quarrying of limestone was carried out on Cave Hill until the 1830s when a new quarry was opened on the southern face of the hill in the townland of Ballyaghagan. A gravity powered rail line, laid out between the quarry and Belfast’s docklands, was depicted in plan form on the first edition Ordnance Survey map (1832-33) which captioned the route ‘proposed line of rail road.’ The line was known as the ‘Cave Hill Tramway’ on the second edition map of 1858 which recorded that few buildings had been constructed along the route by the mid-19th century. It was not until the 1860s and 1870s that terraced housing was developed along the Limestone Road (which had been renamed in c. 1865) in addition to the red-brick terraces of Atlantic Avenue, Duncairn Gardens and Newington Avenue (Linder, p. 24).

Nos 216-222 Limestone Road was originally known as ‘Newington Terrace’ and was constructed on land leased by Phillip Wright, a local coal merchant who held business premises at Belfast’s Coal Exchange at Queen’s Quay and formerly resided on the Shankill Road (UTD). Wright had the terrace constructed in c. 1868 and took up residence at No. 222 Limestone Road (HB26/48/003D). The architect of nos 216-222 Limestone Road is not known, although the row is notable as one of the earliest Victorian-style terraces in the area. The terrace was first included in the Annual Revisions in 1868 which set the value of nos 216-220 Limestone Road at £47 each (Phillip Wright’s slightly larger house was valued at £57).

The first recorded occupant of No. 216 Limestone Road was Lucinda Hennessey who resided there in the 1870s until her death in 1889 (PRONI Wills). Hennessey’s daughter, Mary Jane, lived at Newington Terrace until 1896 when the house was purchased outright and occupied by Dr. Michael McDonnell, a local physician. In 1901 the Census of Ireland described No. 216 Limestone Road as a 1st class dwelling that consisted of 15 rooms. Following Michael McDonnell’s death in 1902 the house was leased to John McVea, a wholesale merchant and draper who continued to reside at the address until c. 1920. Ownership of No. 216 Limestone Road had passed to a Mrs. Scott by the First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1936-57) which decreased the value of the house to £45. A Mr. S. Carson occupied the address between 1936 and the 1970s. By the end of the Second General Revaluation (1956-72) the total rateable value of No. 216 Limestone Road stood at £40.

Nos 216-222 Limestone Road were listed in 1987. The NIEA HB Records note that No. 216 lay in a state of dereliction until 1995 when the building was restored and converted into office premises. In 2003/04 nos 216-220 Limestone Road were converted into 17 self-contained supported-living apartments known as Lisieux House (NIEA HB Records).

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/12/B/43/B/5-16 - Annual Revisions (1862-1905)
7. PRONI VAL/12/B/43/H/2-5 – Annual Revisions (1906-1930)
8. PRONI VAL/3/C/3/10 - First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1936-72)
9. PRONI VAL/4/B/7/14 - Second General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1956-72)
10. Ulster Town Directories (1861-1943)
11. PRONI Wills Catalogue (3 Aug 1889; 3 Apr 1902)
12. Census of Ireland (1901; 1911)
13. First Survey record – HB26/48/003 (1986)
14. NIEA HB Records – HB26/48/003A

Secondary Sources
1. Linder, S., ‘The Giant’s Tale: The history and heritage of North Belfast’ Belfast: North Belfast Partnership. C. 2010.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest
R. Age
S. Authenticity

Evaluation

A group of three buildings from a terrace of four similar Victorian two-storey three-bay houses, built c.1868 to designs by an unknown architect, now substantially altered following the conversion in to multiple apartments in 2003. This distinctive row, originally named 'Newington Terrace', was one of the first to be built following the development of the Cavehill Tramway, which transported limestone from the quarry on the slopes of the Cavehill to the docks. The original arrangement of three houses is still legible from the Limestone Road with each having a central doorcase and single storey projecting semi-circular bay. Although only the original entrance to No.218 now serves all three houses, now renamed Lisieux House, they each retain an elaborate entablature above the door supported on moulded console brackets, with decorative spandrel panels and a projecting keystone. Indeed, the principal elevation retains its original character with good proportions and style, including tripartite windows with segmental arch openings having original double hung sliding sashes, round arched dormer windows, red brick walling and stucco dressings. The gable end facing on to Newington Avenue is also still intact, whilst at the opposite end, the remaining house in the terrace, No 222 Limestone Road (HB26/48/003B) is largely unaltered; collectively the four former houses have group value. Despite the loss of their internal partition walls, the modern extensions to the rear and the extensive hard landscaping at the front, the terrace remains a significant building of historical and architectural interest and makes a positive contribution to the local environment.