3 Ben Madigan Park

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached three-bay single-storey with attic rendered villa on ‘L-shaped’ plan, having single-storey extension to south, approached from north-east by series of rendered steps. Located on an elevated site overlooking Belfast Lough to east and accessed from Ben Madigan Park from north. Outbuilding to east. Building enclosed by low roughcast boundary wall and hedge to north, hedge to west and south and rendered retaining wall and fence to east.

Hipped red tiled roof on overhanging eaves course with uPVC half-round gutter discharging to uPVC circular downpipes. Four no. rusticated red brick chimneys with decorative terracotta chimney pots and concrete capping. Square-headed dormers to north and south having hipped roofs.

Front elevation faces east and is three-bay single-storey. Single-storey extension to south having hipped roof. Roughcast rendered walls. Square-headed windows openings with slim render band and painted stone sills having uPVC casement windows, unless otherwise stated. Corner window to north. Semi-circular headed opening to entrance door having timber and leaded glazed panelled entrance door with leaded-glazed sidelights flanking. Entrance approached by series of concrete steps bounded by a low roughcast rendered wall with flat painted coping. Square-headed recessed opening at basement level.

Rear elevation to south is three-bays, with central dormer. Window opening to south extension.

Side elevation to west is two-bay. West elevation to extension is two-bay.

Side elevation to north is four-bay having three canted oriel bays on painted scrolled timber brackets, flat roof with moulded parapet. Central dormer to roof.

Setting: Located on an elevated site overlooking Belfast Lough to east and access from Ben Madigan Park from north. Outbuilding to east having pitched felt-tiled roof on exposed rafter ends. Cast-iron half-round gutter discharging to circular downpipes. Building has gardens to north and east, enclosed by low roughcast boundary wall and hedge. Decorative metal gateway to north forming entrance to driveway and pathway and steps to entrance door. Rendered retaining wall and fence to east.

Roof: Red tiled.
RWG: uPVC
Walls: Roughcast render
Windows: uPVC

Historical information

No. 3 Ben Madigan Park, a single-storey house located in the townland of Ballygolan, was constructed in c. 1930. The house was built as part of the suburban development of the townlands of Low Wood, Green Castle and Ballygolan which took place during the interwar period. The name Ben Madigan Park was derived from the Irish ‘Beann Mhadagáin’ (Madigan’s hill) which was the original name of Cavehill. Ben Madigan Park and Ben Madigan Park South were laid out between 1928 and c. 1935 on undeveloped land acquired by Thomas McKee, a Belfast-based builder and contractor who resided on Ravenhill Avenue.

The valuation sources note that all the houses on Ben Madigan Park and Ben Madigan Park South were owned by Thomas McKee who was undoubtedly responsible for the design of the buildings along both streets. No. 3 Ben Madigan Park was first recorded in the Belfast Street Directory for 1930. The house lay vacant in 1930-31 but was occupied by James Bullick, an agent for a Belfast-based engineering firm. No. 3 Ben Madigan Park was recorded on the fifth edition Ordnance Survey map (1931) which depicted it along its current layout suggesting that few major structural changes have been made to the building since the 1930s. The First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1936-57) set the total rateable value of No. 3 Ben Madigan Park at £45 and recorded that Bullick leased the house from Thomas McKee. Bullick continued to reside at the address until at least the 1970s. By the end of the Second General Revaluation the value of No. 3 Ben Madigan Park had been increased to £53.

References

Primary Sources
1. PRONI OS/6/1/57/4 – Fourth Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1921)
2. PRONI OS/6/1/57/5 – Fifth Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1931)
3. PRONI VAL/3/B/1/3 – First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1936-57)
4. PRONI VAL/4/B/1/57 – Second General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1956-72)
5. Belfast Street Directories (1928-1970)
6. First Survey Record – HB26/51/010 (No Date)
7. Ordnance Survey Map 114-13 (1960-61)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Detached five-bay single-storey with attic rendered villa on 'L-shaped' plan, built during the Inter-war era to the designs of Thomas McKee. The building retains some of its original form and character including canted bays and red tiled roof. Although of interest the building has replacement windows which detract from its character and there are better examples listed.