37 New Road, Donaghadee, Co Down, BT21 0DU

37 New Road, Donaghadee

A relatively small and plain single-storey late Regency gentleman's lodge, dating from approximately 1835–40, with a semi-basement and attic storey. The property sits on the north side of New Road, north of Donaghadee town centre, with its symmetrical front façade facing roughly south.

The entrance is positioned at the centre of the front and is notably elevated, accessed by a broad flight of stone steps with side walls topped by small urns on the end piers. The entrance door is panelled timber with an elliptical fanlight featuring 'spiders' web' tracery and three-pane sidelights with panelled aprons, all contained within a simple moulded surround. Flanking the entrance on either side are two relatively tall sash windows with Georgian panes (6 panes over 6).

The surveyors were unable to examine the remaining elevations in detail, though they glimpsed both gables. The west gable appears to contain a window to the left (matching the front windows) and a window-like recess to the right, together with a small attic window. The left edge of this gable adjoins a single-storey extension with a flat roof. The east gable likewise has one window on the left and an attic window. Internal evidence suggests a central full-height return to the rear, with an extension to the west side of this.

The front façade is finished in painted lined render with in-and-out bevelled quoins and an eaves course; the gables appear similarly finished. The gabled roof is slated (at least to the front) and carries a mainly glazed central dormer to the front with a very shallow pitched gabled roof. The roof has a slight overhang. Two rendered chimney stacks with matching octagonal pots sit on the main roof section. Low rendered walls flank either side of the front steps, forming areas for planting; these walls appear to have been added sometime after 1977.

New Road was laid out prior to 1834, linking the north end of Shore Street with the road to Newtownards. Originally known simply as 'New Road', it later became known as 'Carnathen Place' (also spelled 'Carnathan Place') as it developed as a genteel suburb after approximately 1835. It subsequently took the name 'Villa Road' around the 1890s before reverting to New Road around the 1920s, though both latter names were used interchangeably during the early 1900s.

Apart from a solitary building at the eastern junction, the road is shown undeveloped on the 1834 Ordnance Survey map. The present number 37 is depicted on the revised valuation town plan of Donaghadee of approximately 1838, placing the property's construction between 1834 and 1838. Its original occupant may have been Captain Camilieri of the Royal Navy, recorded as the resident in the circa 1838 valuation. However, he did not remain long; a property at 'Carnathan-Place' described as a 'good dwelling house with coach-house, stables [and] hay-loft…now occupied by Captain Camilieri' was advertised to let in July 1840.

Captain Camilieri was likely Joseph Camilleri (1794–1860), a Maltese who was appointed a Commander in the Royal Navy in 1829 and is reputed by one source to have been 'the only officer of the period ever to win his epaulettes whilst being born a foreigner'. From July 1837 until July 1840 he served as an Inspecting-Commander in the Coast Guard and appears to have been based at Donaghadee during this period.

By approximately 1861 the property had passed to a Mr Gunning but was occupied by Samuel Delacherois, a relation of Daniel Delacherois, the then landlord of much of Donaghadee. Samuel remained there until 1864, when he was succeeded as tenant by Francis Ward, who was followed in turn by Reverend J. Hill in 1878. A Mrs Printer (or possibly Prenter) is noted as the occupant in 1895, Alexander Cumming from 1900, and Henrietta Cumming from 1908. According to the 1911 census, Miss Cumming, a 45-year-old spinster, occupied the house (described as a 'first class' dwelling with 9 rooms in use) with a domestic servant; valuation records indicate she remained there until 1930.

The plan of the house appears unchanged on all available maps up to 1939, with the return shown larger (extended westwards) on the Ordnance Survey map of 1964.