39 Victoria Road, Holywood, Co Down, BT18 9BD

A two-storey-over-basement end terrace townhouse built c. 1850 and located to the south of Victoria Road in Holywood. The building is square-on-plan with a two-storey gabled return to the rear. It has a pitched natural slate roof with rendered chimneystacks (rectangular, with terracotta pots) and cast-iron ogee rainwater goods with a hopper on bracketed eaves; plastic rainwater goods serve the rear return.

The principal elevation faces north and is three bays wide. Windows are 1/1 timber-framed sliding sash, with segmental heads to the first floor and projecting continuous sills throughout. First-floor windows have moulded architrave surrounds with keyblock detail, apron panels, and corbel brackets beneath the sills. The walling is painted smooth render; the ground floor displays band rustication with elongated keyblock detail over the windows. The entrance door to the right is accessed by three stone steps and comprises a six-panel timber door with carved detail and brass furniture, surmounted by a plain transom light. There is a reticulated block surround to the entrance door with plain keyblock detail. A modern timber double-leaf door serves the basement to the right. Cast-iron decorative railings front the property.

The east elevation is abutted to the adjoining building. The south (rear) elevation is partially abutted by a full-length return to the left and a full-height uPVC glass extension to the right; an exposed section of the rear return has a single opening to the first floor. The west elevation has two window openings at basement level, with projecting chimneystacks from basement level converging on a central stack to the apex (the chimney has since been removed).

The entrance sits up three stone steps over the basement. The terrace is set back slightly from the road; number 39 has a small tarmacadam parking area to the front. To the east is a lane access to the neighbouring property, and to the rear is a large mature garden.

Victoria Road began to be developed from around 1850 to provide homes for merchants and professional people attracted by the opening of the railway in 1848, which afforded easy access to Belfast. This merchant and professional class, experiencing increasing prosperity, sought healthier and more attractive surroundings outside the city. The terrace is dated to 1858 and was first shown on the second edition Ordnance Survey map of 1858, captioned "Martello Terrace". Griffith's Valuation lists a terrace of three houses with L-shaped returns having identical dimensions. The current house was occupied by Hugh Robinson leasing from Hugh Kavanagh, and was valued at £21 10s (later raised to £23) and valued slightly higher than the other houses in the terrace due to "better internal finish". Around 1880 the name changed to "Martello Crescent" and by 1887 the valuation had decreased to £19. In 1899 the name changed again to "Lower Martello Crescent". In 1891 the return was raised a storey and a bath installed, leading to a rise in valuation to £20. By 1895, the landlord complained the houses were "difficult to let" and the valuation was lowered to £17; the valuer noted a kitchen in the basement storey and rent of £21 plus taxes. The property has been occupied by successive tenants including Mary Still, Eliza Martin (1887), Robert Donnelly (1895), Mary Donnelly (1927), and Henry Graham (1930), with Margaret McHugh as lessor from 1924. The house continues in use as a domestic dwelling. The building has group value as part of a terrace of three equally well-preserved townhouses retaining much character, and is of interest as part of Holywood's development following the arrival of the railways.