5 Ardmore Terrace, Holywood, Co. Down, BT18 9BH

5 Ardmore Terrace, Holywood

A three-bay, two-storey symmetrical Victorian terrace house, built around 1850 as part of a seven-house terrace developed in palace form. The house is located to the west of Ardmore Road, south east of Holywood, and reflects the expansion of the town following the arrival of the railway. Much of the original historic fabric survives, although the interior floor plan has been modified.

The rectangular plan includes two two-storey returns to the rear. The roof is pitched natural slate with rectangular chimneystacks featuring stone plinths and terracotta pots; further chimneystacks rise from the rear gables, and a square brick chimney rises from the ridgeline. Half-round cast-iron rainwater goods are fitted to the painted masonry eaves; uPVC rainwater goods serve the rear returns.

The principal elevation faces north and is rendered and painted with simple rustication to the ground floor. Architectural details include quoins, a raised and chamfered plinth, and a smooth render string course between the upper floors. Ground floor windows are 2/1 timber-framed sliding sash windows in canted bays; first floor windows are 2/2 with continuous sills and moulded architraves with projecting moulded cornices. The principal entrance is a single panelled timber door with a recessed moulded surround and round-headed plain transom light, accessed by three stone steps.

The rear elevation comprises two-storey returns to left and right with various timber-framed sash windows of differing designs, including a round-headed multi-lit opening to the first floor. The left gable has a window opening to its gable end. Both gables are abutted by similar returns of neighbouring properties, creating the full gable formation. The east gable is abutted by the adjoining building (HB 23/20/065F), and the west elevation is similarly abutted by adjoining building HB 23/20/065D.

The setting comprises a lawned front area with a pebbled pathway accessed by four stone steps and partially enclosed by hedgerow. Tarmacadam car parking lies to the rear. The setting has been compromised by the construction of modern housing (Ardmore Park) on the approach to Ardmore Court and further construction to the rear.

Historical context

Ardmore Terrace was built in the late 1840s following the opening of the railway to Holywood. The houses were let either as bathing villas or on permanent terms to members of the professional classes attracted to the developing town. The terrace is shown on the second edition Ordnance Survey map of 1858. Griffith's Valuation fieldbooks for 1856-64 initially record the buildings as "Ormeau Terrace". A contemporary newspaper advertisement announced the renamed villas for rent: "Villas in Holywood at reduced rent. To let and immediate possession given, two houses in Ardmore Terrace. The houses have each a garden and the use of extensive grounds and contain Dining room, Drawing room and Seven Bedrooms with Hot and Cold Baths &c., and a never-failing supply of Water, without pumping. For a permanent tenant, very moderate terms would be made…An Omnibus plies from every Train, Fare 2d."

At the time of Griffith's Valuation (1856-64), number five was occupied by Captain Arthur M Skinner and leased from John Simms with a valuation of £41. The valuer recorded: "Each of these small houses has 1st storey: D.Room, parlour, closet, pantry and kitchen, 2nd storey: 2 large bedrooms, bathroom, closet and servants room, Return: scullery, store rooms and servants rooms." Between 1880 and 1887 the valuations dropped slightly without recorded reason. Subsequent occupiers included Margaret Davidson (1880), Maria McCammon (1902), Andrew Jameson (1919), and William Grant (1928). The house experienced periods of vacancy. From 1902, the immediate lessor was William Gilliland, an architect primarily engaged in commercial and industrial projects including the Ormeau Bakery in Belfast, and a founder member of the Ulster Society of Architects and city councillor for Victoria Ward.