Holy Family Pastoral Centre

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two-storey Victorian red brick end terraced house, slightly elevated above street level, built c.1868 to designs by an unknown architect. Rectangular plan form facing NE with red brick return to centre of SW elevation. No. 222 is part of a terrace with three other similar houses adjoining to South, along Limestone Road (HB26.48.003A).

Pitched natural slate roof with black clay roll top ridge tiles. Cast iron ogee guttering discharging to circular section downpipes. Two dormer windows to both NE and SW elevations, with timber bargeboards, with round lobes at eaves level and semi-circular headed side opening casement windows. Rectangular section two stage red brick chimney to SE with replacement terracotta pots and two separate yellow brick string courses to each stage, no chimney to NW.

Windows are generally tripartite with central window flanked by narrower side lights; red brick segmental arch bevelled brick openings with painted smooth rendered 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 toothed quoins.

Principle elevation
The front elevation faces NE. Three bay two storey with two attic dormers set on a chamfered red brick plinth course. Central doorcase flanked by a projecting semi-circular flat roofed single storey bay window to W and tripartite window to E. Semi-circular bay has 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; bay has painted smooth render above window head level with deep moulded projecting cornice to parapet. Projecting cornice extends along facade to E above door and joins raised brick band, three courses high, above GF windows to E. Facade has painted smooth render quoins to NW corner.

Steps and path lead from footpath on NE to central doorcase; segmental arch opening with fanlight, sidelights and square-headed four panelled double leaf painted timber door with brass door knob to one leaf and replacement letterbox to the other. Doorway has moulded plaster surround surmounted by cornice hood which is set on scrolled console brackets with applied foliate detail, keystone to centre and decorative stucco moulding to spandrels.

Continuous string course to at cill level to FF windows with single tripartite windows flanking central semi circular arched window above entrance. Arches are formed in guaged brick soldier course, with bevelled reveal. Above FF windows three raised courses of red brick walling support sawtooth double eaves course.

South eastern elevation
The building is part of a terrace which extends SE along Limestone Road. The adjoining houses have been converted into a single block of apartments,now called Lisieux House, incorporating numbers 216, 218 & 220.

South western elevation
The SW elevation has a single bay to the left hand side, with square headed openings to ground and first floor level formed in brick soldiers courses and a wall head dormer to attic level with a round arched window. Walls are red brick Flemish bond, painted up to mid-ground floor level. A two-storey return, also in red brick has one original sliding sash window at first floor level. All other windows are replacement timber with painted conrete lintels and a square headed opening for a modern door with plain cement render surround. This return is abutted by a later retangular block to W, in stretcher bond red brick, duo pitched cement fibre roof uPVC gutters and downpipe and square-headed doors; it contains an escape stair. A single storey flat roofed extension, also modern, with polycarbonate domed rooflights, enclosed the yard on the right hand side and beyond this sits a square headed window at first floor and a wall head dormer, to match the left hand side.

North western elevation
Elevation is obscured by the brown brick Holy Family Youth Centre to the W which is set back from the building by one bay. Single square-headed window opening to GF with painted concrete lintel and top opening two pane casement. Smooth plaster quoins to NW corner of facade and raised eaves course to gable.

Setting
Located to the S of Limestone Road No. 222 forms part of a terrace of four similar houses. No. 222 is set back from the main road on a raised site with a modest sized garden to front, set to lawn with mature shrubs and hedging, and an enclosed yard to rear. Front garden is bound on E and W by low red brick walling with an rendered dwarf retaining wall to front (lined to resemble ashlar stone) returned to contain first flight of steps, topped by metal railings set on bevelled ashlar sandstone coping. Mild steel pedestrian gate with simple flattened finials, horizontal rail and central scrollwork on L-iron posts. Principal entrance to main house is approached by a short flight of steps with paved path and flanking metal handrails leading to central doorcase.

Roof: Natural slate
RWGs: Cast iron
Walling: Flemish bond red brick with smooth painted render dressing
Windows: Double hung timber sashes

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 also 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 with Phillip Wright’s slightly larger house at No. 222 valued at £57.

The first recorded occupant of No. 222 Limestone Road was Phillip Wright who resided at the address until his death in 1896 (PRONI Wills) at which time the house was acquired by John Taggart, a local draper. The 1901 census described No.222 as a 1st class dwelling that consisted of 15 rooms and possessed three stables, a coach house and a store amongst its outbuildings to rear. John Taggart continued to reside at Newington Terrace until his death in 1915 at which time a Mr. James Dolan took possession of the house. Dolan remained at the address until 1940 and under the First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1936-57) the value of the house was decreased to £35. No. 222 Limestone Road was purchased by Holy Family Parish in 1967 and converted into a convent for the Little Sisters of the Assumption. By the end of the Second General Revaluation (1956-72) the total rateable value of the building stood at £128.

Nos 216-222 Limestone Road were listed in 1987. The NIEA HB Records note that the Little Sisters of the Assumption vacated the building in 1980. The former convent was converted into a parish social centre which opened in May 1991 and provides facilities for adult education and group meetings. The conversion of No. 222 Limestone Road into a parish centre included the reslating of its roof and the installation of new dormer windows (NIEA HB Records; Holy Family Parish website).

The current occupant advised that substantial fire and flood damage occured c.1987 and resulted in loss of original fabric at the back of the house.

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 (12 May 1896; 23 Apr 1915)
12. Census of Ireland (1901; 1911)
13. First Survey record – HB26/48/003 (1986)
14. NIEA HB Records – HB26/48/003D

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

Online Resources
1. Holy Family Parish Website - http://www.holy-familyparish.com/global/archive.html

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest
R. Age
S. Authenticity

Evaluation

Three bay two storey with attic Victorian end terrace former house, built in red brick c.1868 for Phillip Wright, a local coal merchant who took up residence at the property. The name of the architect is unknown although 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. Rectangular plan form facing N with two-storey return attached to centre SW which is abutted by a later rectangular extension to the rear. The front elevation remains largely unchanged having red brick walling with elaborate stucco detailing, double hung timber sliding sash tripartite windows and a projecting semi-circular bay with fine curved glass to GF. The central panelled entrance door within a segmental arched opening has a moulded entablature on scrolled console brackets and ornate spandrel panels. Internally, despite suffering from fire damage, the original plan form and a substantial amount of original fabric has survived. Overall, No. 222 has good architectural detailing and retains its original character, style and proportions. It shares group value with the adjoining houses at 216-220 Limestone Road(HB26.48.003A),with the entire row slightly elevated above the street. No.222 retains the original boundary wall that adds further interest.