Carrig Gorm, Carrig Dene, 27 Bridge Road, Helens Bay, Bangor, Co Down, BT19 1TS

Carrig Gorm (also known as Carrig Dene) is an asymmetrical Victorian dwelling built around 1880, located on Bridge Road approximately one mile north-west of Helen's Bay Railway Station in County Down. It stands within the townland of Ballygrot and remains in private residential use. The building is recorded but not listed, as extensive alterations and extensions have compromised its architectural and historic interest, though it retains local significance and its distinctive tower is visible from a distance.

The house is primarily one-and-a-half storeys, with a three-bay arrangement on the principal elevation and an irregular plan form. The roofing is natural slate with clay ridge tiles and timber finials. The bargeboards are simply moulded with decorative collar ties, protruding purlins, and turned king posts to the gable ends, with exposed rafter ends. Rainwater goods have been replaced in uPVC. The chimneystacks are stucco-moulded with clay pots. External walls are stucco rendered in a ruled-and-lined finish with a projected plinth. Windows throughout are replacement double-glazed uPVC units in a sliding sash style and casement form, with moulded surrounds and raised and pointed key-blocks. The original timber double-leaf front door has glazed upper panels with matching sidelights set within a shouldered timber frame, with leaded and stained overlights above.

The principal elevation faces north-west and is asymmetrically arranged. A centrally located catslide bay contains the front entrance left of centre, with two windows to the right, and two dormers above fitted with finials and keyblocked arched windows. One-and-a-half-storey gabled end bays project to either side. The right-hand gable is symmetrically arranged with a central ground-floor window flanked by matching narrow windows, and two windows at first-floor level. The left-hand gable is slightly smaller in scale, symmetrically arranged with two ground-floor windows and a single first-floor window. The left (north-east) gable is asymmetrically arranged with a bipartite ground-floor window to the left and a single first-floor window left of centre. A modern single-storey uPVC conservatory adjoins the right-hand side.

A single-bay projecting gable has been added later to the left-hand side, adjoining the one-and-a-half-storey elevation. It has a single window on each floor; the right cheek has a single window on each floor (the first-floor window being diminished and positioned to the right); the left cheek has a diminished window to the left at first-floor level, with the ground floor obscured.

The rear (south-east) elevation has a symmetrical gable to the left with two windows on each floor. Abutting the right cheek of this gable is a three-stage, square-plan tower — the most architecturally distinctive feature of the building, visible from a distance. The tower has plain detailing with a corbelled third stage surmounted by a steeply pitched pyramidal roof. The second stage has a diminished window to its south-east face, and the third stage has a single window on each of the south-east, south-west, and north-west faces. A large extended shallow-pitched catslide roof with numerous modern rooflights covers much of the rear; the south-east and south-west faces are obscured, and the north-east face abuts the right return. The right gabled return has a blank gable with a central chimney, a single first-floor window to the left cheek, and a single first-floor window to the right cheek.

The right (south-west) elevation is principally symmetrically arranged, with a central projecting gable containing a central double-height arched recess with a single window on each floor, the first-floor window being diminished. There is a single ground-floor window to the right and the left side is blank.

The site is screened by hedges and trees. The gated entrance comprises decorative iron railings with iron piers surmounted by lamps, and a gravel driveway with dual access running parallel to the main road. There is a large lawn to the front of the dwelling, with a yard and simple linear single-storey and one-and-a-half-storey outbuildings to the rear. The site is surrounded by large detached suburban dwellings.

Helen's Bay began to be developed towards the end of the 19th century, primarily at the instigation of the 1st Marquess of Dufferin, who wished to see a seaside resort diversifying the landscape. By 1901, development in the area included a church and a number of large and medium-sized villas. Carrig Gorm first appears, captioned, on the third edition Ordnance Survey map of 1901. However, the site appears to incorporate an earlier structure — a farmhouse shown on the first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1833 and listed in Griffith's Valuation at a value of £3.

Street directories record the house in 1880 as the residence of John Cramsie, an auctioneer, valuator, estate agent, and commission agent with premises at 10 Waring Street, Belfast. Cramsie had established his auction business in 1840 and advertised himself as having lengthy experience of sales by auction of estates, leasehold and house property, objects of vertu, pictures, silver plate, books, ships, general effects, and household furniture. It is possible that Cramsie was the original builder of the house, as a construction date of around 1880 is consistent with its appearance. He was a prominent figure in his community, a Justice of the Peace, and was described as an accomplished vocalist with a fine tenor voice. He died suddenly from illness in September 1882, aged 61, and his obituary in the Belfast Newsletter described him as a great lover of the fine arts and noted his courtesy and gentlemanly demeanour throughout his public life. Notably, his funeral was attended by three architects — Alex McAllister, John O'Neill, and William Jackson — and it is possible that one of these designed Carrig Gorm.

The next occupants associated with the house were the Walkingtons. The Belfast Newsletter announced the birth of a daughter at the house to American-born R. B. Walkington and his English wife Ada in August 1886. R. B. Walkington & Co. were shirt and collar manufacturers with premises in Linenhall Street, Belfast. Between April 1889 and March 1890, the Walkingtons attempted without apparent success to let or sell the house, which was described at the time as beautifully situated with a charming view of the Lough, set in grounds of over three acres at a head rent of £31 2s. The premises were said to contain three reception rooms, seven bedrooms, a good bathroom, pantries, hot and cold water, two tennis lawns, and a large well-stocked garden, together with stables, a coachhouse, harness room, byres, dairy, and a well-built lodge. Having failed to dispose of the property, in June 1892 it was advertised as a furnished summer let. In 1895, the Walkingtons' ten-year-old daughter tragically died. In 1896, Ada Walkington wrote to Lord Dufferin to complain about the lack of drainage in Helen's Bay, stating that the sewage gas was so offensive as to be a most serious danger, that members of her household had greatly suffered, and that her doctor had advised her to appeal directly to him on the matter.

At the time of the 1901 census, Robert and Ada Walkington were in residence with a two-year-old daughter. Ada Walkington unusually described herself as head of the household. They had four English-born domestic staff, and an Inspector of Factories from England was visiting with his wife at the time.

The house was the home of a Miss Crawford in 1908 — possibly one of the Crawfords of Crawfordsburn — but by the time of the 1911 census it was the residence of Indian-born James Peter Ewing, a linen merchant and graduate, and his English wife Edith, with a single parlour maid from County Antrim as their servant. James Ewing appears to have remained in residence for a lengthy period, still being recorded as occupier in 1939.

The house continues in use as a private dwelling.