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

112 Seacliff Road, Bangor

A two-storey, three-bay Victorian end-of-terrace dwelling, built around 1855 as part of Clifton Terrace, a row of six houses. The building is graded B2 for its architectural and historical significance.

The house is asymmetrical in plan with a rectangular form and two two-storey rear returns enclosing a yard. It sits on an elevated site on the coast overlooking Belfast Lough, to the east of Eisenhower Pier, amongst Victorian and Edwardian terraces.

The pitched natural slate roof has clay ridge tiles and overhanging timber eaves with bargeboards. The external walls are smooth rendered with a plinth, string courses and quoins; channel rustication appears on the ground floor of the extreme left bay, with smooth render to the first floor. Rendered chimney-stacks with clay pots are shared with the adjoining building. Rainwater goods are modern uPVC.

Windows throughout are square-headed 1/1 timber sliding sash; the margin glazing bars have been removed and timber replacement fixed windows have been installed on the first floor. The front door is a timber four-panel door with brass ironmongery, topped by a fixed light with margin panes. A modern timber-framed glazed porch fronts the entrance.

The principal elevation faces north-west and was significantly altered around 1930. The front door is centrally positioned beneath a projecting balcony with stone balusters and metal railing on the first floor. The left-hand bay rises to a gable embracing a two-storey canted bay with a leaded hipped roof; a matching canted bay appears on the right without a gable. A blank gable faces north-east.

The rear elevation comprises a mono-pitch two-storey return on the left and a two-storey L-shaped mono-pitched return containing the stairwell, upper floor accommodation and external storage. A single-storey mono-pitch structure fronts the enclosed yard. The right gable abuts the neighbouring listed building.

A large flagstone path leads to the front entrance, flanked by shoe scrapers. The setting includes gardens to front and rear, with a car park now constructed to the front.

Historical Context

Clifton Terrace was among the earliest houses built along this stretch of coast. The terrace is first recorded on the second edition Ordnance Survey map of 1858, when it was surrounded by open countryside. By the early 20th century, the area had filled with significant properties for professional and mercantile residents, accelerating with the arrival of the railway in 1865.

The houses were originally built by William Cowan, a wealthy grocer and wine and spirit retailer with Belfast premises, who is listed in Griffith's Valuation (1856–64) as the property owner. Each house was valued at £20 and described as containing a house, offices, yard and pleasure ground. 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, servants' apartments, two water-closets, a kitchen, scullery and two pantries, all enclosed with a good yard. The twin returns originally housed the kitchen and scullery in one, with stores, a WC and maid's room in the other. By the 1901 census, the houses were classified as first class due to their size and construction, with eleven rooms.

William Cowan died in 1862, a wealthy man; his company, William Cowan Ltd, became celebrated for producing Cowan's No 4 Old Irish Whiskey. In 1877, the terrace passed to Hugh Furey, a draper, family grocer and merchant, who let the houses to lodgers.

Number 112 was occupied by various residents over time, including Caroline McEwen (1901), Jane Charley (1911) and Richard A Barbour (1921). Around 1930, the front facade was substantially altered with the addition of the canted bays and balcony. An enclosed porch was likely added at this time and remodelled around 1980. The house remains in use as a dwelling.

Despite modernisation, the building retains its special character through its original style, proportion and detail. It holds significant group value as part of the terrace and makes a positive contribution to the coastal setting, representing the development of Bangor as a resort town and exemplifying the type of property built for the affluent classes in the mid-19th century.