418 Antrim Road, Belfast, Co. Antrim, BT15 5GA

418 Antrim Road is a mid-terrace, two-bay, three-storey red brick and stucco house with an attic, built in 1872 to the designs of Redfern Kelly (1845–1928), a Belfast-based engineer best known for his work on behalf of Belfast Harbour Commissioners. It forms one of seven similar houses originally known as Fortwilliam Terrace (Nos 416–428 Antrim Road), and has group value with the other listed houses in this terrace.

The terrace sits slightly elevated and set back on the west side of the Antrim Road, screened by a row of mature trees behind a low rendered wall. The plan is rectangular, facing east, with a full-height four-storey gable-ended rear return. There is a small enclosed front area and an enclosed rear yard.

The roof is pitched natural slate, with a full-span flat-roofed dormer window set behind a stucco parapet wall with a deep moulded cornice and plain frieze. The chimney appears to have been removed. There are no visible rainwater goods to the front elevation; uPVC downpipes serve the rear. The red brick walling is laid in Flemish bond with cement pointing, and continuous moulded string courses run at first and second floor sill levels. The rear elevation and return are cement rendered.

The two-bay, three-storey east-facing front elevation is the most significant face of the building. At ground floor level there is a rendered three-sided canted bay window with a continuous masonry sill, plat band, and shallow cornice to parapet. The first floor windows are framed by scrolled foliate console brackets supporting a hood cornice, with a moulded sill supported on stepped brackets. The second floor windows have decorative painted lugged architrave surrounds with bracketed sills. Window openings are square-headed throughout, with decorative stucco surrounds, moulded sills, and original single-pane timber sash windows with ogee horns, except where otherwise noted. To the left bay at ground floor level, gauged brick forms a round-arched opening. The entrance consists of a replacement hardwood panelled door flanked by fluted Ionic columns supporting a dentilated lintel cornice, with a plain glazed fanlight and deep moulded surround. The door opens onto a concrete paved platform and three concrete steps, flanked by original low plinth stone walls with carved anthemion panels. A further concrete platform and three concrete steps are enclosed by replacement steel railings and pedestrian gates.

The south elevation abuts the adjoining No. 416, and the north side elevation abuts No. 420. To the rear, the elevation has been raised by a further floor, forming a wall-head dormer. The original return has also been raised to four storeys and rendered in cement; it has square-headed window openings with precast concrete sills, replacement hardwood casement windows, and hardwood glazed doors opening onto a steel external fire escape.

Despite the flat-roofed attic dormers, replacement rear windows, internal modifications to subdivide the building into apartments, and the external fire escape to the rear, the front elevation remains largely intact.

The Antrim Road was originally laid out in 1830. By the mid-19th century, the townland of Skegoneill had swiftly become one of the most affluent areas in Belfast, with a number of gentlemen's mansions and wealthy merchants' houses constructed there as Belfast's population grew and its shipbuilding, rope-making, and textiles industries expanded. The second edition Ordnance Survey map of 1858 records that the land to the north of the Belfast Waterworks and Limestone Road remained predominantly rural in character at that time. Fortwilliam Terrace was built on the grounds of Hopefield House, a two-storey, six-bay mansion formerly occupied by the Sinclair family. The majority of those grounds were developed during the 1870s. Annual Revisions record that the terrace was leased by Samuel Lawther, manager of Samuel Lawther and Co., local coal importers and ship and insurance brokers with premises on Corporation Square, who resided on Duncairn Street. No. 418 was initially valued at £40 and was first occupied by Robert Collins, a civil engineer. By the third edition Ordnance Survey map of 1901–02, the entire surrounding area had been developed with terraced streets. The 1901 Census of Ireland described No. 418 as a first-class dwelling consisting of 17 rooms, at that point occupied by a Ms. Alicia Hennessey. By the First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1936–57), the house's rateable value had risen to £48 and a Mr. William Weir was recorded as occupant. In 1965, ownership passed to a Mr. D. M. Brotherston, who converted the building into self-contained apartments. By the end of the Second General Revaluation, the total rateable value had risen further to £75 and 5 shillings. The terrace was listed in 1987. An extensive renovation in 1993 involved the installation of modern dormer windows and the repointing of the brickwork. The building continues to be used as self-contained apartments.

Redfern Kelly, the architect of the terrace, was primarily an engineer responsible for major infrastructure works including the deepening of the Victoria Channel, the reconstruction of the Alexandra Graving Dock following its collapse in 1905, and the construction of the Thompson Graving Dock. He also designed a Masonic Hall in Larne and the Murlough Cottages in Dundrum. A similar terrace, formerly known as Castleton Terrace and also thought to have been designed by Kelly, built in 1878, sits almost directly opposite on the east side of the Antrim Road.