173 Belfast Road, Muckamore, Co Antrim, BT41 2ET

173 Belfast Road, Muckamore

An attached four-bay one-and-a-half storey house built around 1820, located south of Belfast Road. The building forms part of a notable group of six picturesque dwellings along this road distinguished by their style, character and arrangement.

The rectangular plan incorporates a one-and-a-half storey pitched extension to the south-east. The pitched roofs are slated with deep overhanging eaves. A central two-colour brick chimney with replacement masonry coping and replacement pots rises through the roof. The gables feature attractive fretted timber bargeboards with finials and dropped circle motifs.

The walls are smooth rendered with a painted plinth. The principal elevation faces north with four bays: the entrance door is located in the third bay from the left, with ground floor windows in the remaining bays. The second window from the left is surmounted by a gabled dormer containing the first floor window. A second dormer to the west is shared with the neighbouring property at 171 Belfast Road. The windows are square-headed replacement uPVC 8/8 sliding sash with horns, set within Tudor-arched-headed openings and all have painted masonry sills. The entrance door opening is Tudor arch-headed with a moulded masonry surround containing an original square-headed timber panelled door with Tudor arch top panels.

The east elevation is abutted by 171 Belfast Road. The south elevation is abutted by the extension, which has timber fretted bargeboards to the eaves matching the original house and uPVC vertically opening windows to each level. The west elevation has one first floor window and a square-headed uPVC top-hung opening casement window to the ground floor. The extension has a single uPVC top-hung opening casement window to the ground floor. The north elevation is gable-ended with one first floor window and a timber garage door at ground floor level. The first floor is accessed from an external stair abutting the west elevation, surmounted by a gabled lucarne.

Rainwater goods comprise cast iron ogee gutters and round downpipes.

The house appears on the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map of 1834, and the plan form remained unchanged on subsequent map editions through to the 6th edition of 1962, indicating the extension was carried out in more recent years. The Griffiths Valuation of 1859 records William Chaine as the Immediate Lessor and James Craig as occupier, with the house valued at £2 5s 0d.

Recent extensions to the rear and the replacement uPVC windows detract from the building's original character, though the house retains interest as part of the architectural group.

The site is directly accessed from Belfast Road to the north. The main elevation is abutted to the east by random rubble square pillars supporting a modern steel gate and walling surmounted by hedging. The south boundary is defined by a timber fence. A modern pitched building constructed in the style of the house stands to the south-east of the site.