102 Seacliff Road, Bangor, Co Down, BT20 5EZ

102 Seacliff Road is an asymmetrical two-storey Victorian end-of-terrace dwelling, one of six, built around 1855. Though modernised with a rear extension, its special character survives intact. The house sits on an elevated coastal site overlooking Belfast Lough, east of Eisenhower Pier, and forms part of Clifton Terrace, a noteworthy example of the type of property built for affluent residents around the time of the railway's arrival in 1865.

The rectangular plan comprises the main house with single and two-storey rear returns and an enclosed yard. The pitched natural slate roof features terracotta clay ridge tiles with overhanging timber eaves and bargeboards. The walls are constructed of sandstone rubble with smooth rendered quoins and a band course between floors; the extreme right end is rendered with channel rustication to the ground floor. Chimney-stacks are smooth rendered with clay pots.

The principal elevation faces north-west and is asymmetrically arranged. The front door—a timber four-panel door with brass ironmongery and a fixed light with margin panes above—is centrally located, sheltered by a small lean-to canopy supported on masonry wall brackets. Directly above the door is a small round-arched window on the first floor. The right bay rises to a gable embracing a two-storey rendered canted bay with a leaded hipped roof. Ground and first-floor windows occupy the left-hand side. The left gable is abutted by the adjoining listed building. Windows are square-headed timber 2/2 sliding sash with margin panes and replacement red brick surrounds; rainwater goods are modern uPVC. The south-west gable is blank.

The rear elevation comprises a two-storey L-shaped mono-pitched return containing a stairwell, upper floor accommodation and external storage, abutted on the right by a modern single-storey flat-roof extension of no architectural interest. A replacement ground-floor door serves the rear.

The setting is elevated, overlooking Belfast Lough, with Victorian and Edwardian terraces flanking the property. A front and rear garden remain, though a car park has been constructed to the front. A large flagstone path with shoe scrapers either side leads to the front entrance.

Clifton Terrace was among the earliest developments along this stretch of coast. First shown on the second edition Ordnance Survey map of 1858, it then stood surrounded by open countryside. A photograph from perhaps the 1870s depicts the terrace as one of only a few developments along the coastline at that time. By 1901 the area had been filled with significant properties for professional and mercantile residents.

The terrace is listed in Griffith's Valuation (1856-64) as the property of William Cowan, a grocer and wine and spirit retailer with premises in Church Lane and Joy Street, Belfast. He became wealthy and his company, William Cowan Ltd, became celebrated for producing Cowan's No 4 Old Irish Whiskey. The Belfast Newsletter reported in May 1857 that the terrace had been built "in the very best manner, embracing all modern improvements in ventilation, and every convenience that can be desired." Each house contained a large dining room, five bedrooms and servants' apartments, two water-closets, kitchen, scullery and two pantries, all well-enclosed with a good yard. The 1901 census indicates the houses contained 11 rooms and were deemed first class due to their size and construction.

In 1877 the terrace passed to Hugh Furey, a draper, family grocer, tea, wine and spirit merchant. The 1901 census shows that 102 Seacliff Road was then occupied by Samuel McBroom, a commercial traveller, his wife, two children and a domestic servant. Elizabeth Lilburn took up residence in 1908, and the 1911 census records Adelaide Campbell, an 80-year-old spinster, in occupation with her servant. Subsequent tenants included Joseph D Begley in 1915 and Mary R McQuaid in 1921. During works in the 1970s, a timber from the kitchen was discovered bearing the date 1892, along with a Belfast Newsletter from 1896, indicating improvements were carried out to the house at that time. The house remains in use as a dwelling.