39 Belfast Road, Holywood, Co Down, BT18 9EH

39 Belfast Road is the right-hand unit of a terrace of three early-Victorian two-storey houses with attics, located to the west side of Holywood and set back from the road. Built in the mid-1840s, the group represents the earliest terrace to appear on the Belfast Road and is of historical interest as among the first dwellings in this part of Holywood, marking the early spread of the town. The three houses, originally captioned 'Bellevue Terrace' on the 1858 Ordnance Survey map, are characterised by good proportions, restrained ornamentation and retain a substantial proportion of original fabric.

No. 39 comprises a rectangular plan with full-height rear return, further extended by an outbuilding to the rear, and a lower two-storey wing to the right now converted into a separate unit (No. 41). The pitched natural slate roof features angled clay ridge tiles and three cement rendered chimneystacks with moulded caps and five terracotta pots—one to the gable, one shared with the adjoining building, and one to the return. Gutters are ogee cast iron on moulded eaves to the front with half-round replacement to the rear and replacement downpipes. Modern rooflights have been added to the rear pitch.

The walling is unpainted ruled-and-lined cement rendered over a slightly projecting plinth, with a crenellated geometric frieze. A moulded string course runs to window head level at ground floor and at first floor, rising over window heads. The windows are timber 6/6 sliding sashes without horns; those to the ground floor have stop-end chamfered reveals with fluted keyblock detailing, moulding detail to the jambs and painted masonry cills. The original timber four-panelled door features bolection moulding and beaded muntin with a plain glazed transom of original glazing above. The surround consists of panelled pilasters on plinth blocks topped by scrolled foliated console brackets supporting a masonry canopy. A stone threshold is accessed by a stone step.

The principal elevation faces northwest with three evenly spaced openings to each floor, the door set to the left side. The left northeast gable is abutted by the adjoining house. The rear southeast elevation opens onto a rear yard enclosed to the rear by a tall crenellated rendered yard wall and to the west by a lower wall topped with timber lattice fencing. The render is painted white to the ground floor. The return, located to the right side, features French doors and a variety of uPVC and timber sash windows diminished to attic storey, remaining blank to the rear where it is abutted by the outbuilding with modern openings. The right southwest gable is abutted by the former wing, now separately owned, which is lower and has enlarged and replacement openings throughout, including one set into an elliptical-headed recess with keyblock detail.

The house is set back from and facing away from Belfast Road, largely concealed from view by two two-storey nineteenth-century houses. A gravel forecourt leads to extensive former gardens on a lower level to the north, now completely overgrown and inaccessible. The plot originally included a long strip of ground stretching down to the railway line.

According to Griffith's Valuation (1856–64), the terrace comprised three houses all leased from Robert Shaw, with accompanying pasture leased by Shaw from John Harrison. At this time the current house was occupied by Paul Munster and valued at £30, with dimensions recorded for a house, return, passage and three offices. A plan sketch from the valuation period shows there has been little significant alteration or addition since, though a porch shown to the front façade has since been removed. By 1886 the valuation was reduced to £20 10s. Notable occupants included Alfred Munster, the Danish Consul for Ireland, whose wife Mary C.F. Monck was a well-known poet who published a collection of poetry, Waifs and Strays: verse, while living at this house. The couple later moved to 'Crofton'. Subsequent tenants included Arthur J Flannery (1887), David Jardine (1903), Samuel Young (1904), William Black (1908), James F Tate (1910) and Jean Tait (1925).

In 1911, valuer's notes recorded a porch still present at the front and an extension measuring 15 by 27 by 17 feet to the west of the house (now No. 41), noted as being of little value and used for lumber. At that time the house comprised five bedrooms, two attics, two reception rooms and a bathroom with hot and cold water supplied from the Holywood water supply. The lessor was noted as carrying out repairs and improvements but doing very little, with the house not being refurbished for the new occupier.