Conservatory Cottages, Stormont Estate, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, Co. Antrim, BT4 3XX

Attached multi-bay linear range of single-storey stone former dwellings, built c.1858. Rectangular on plan on an east-west axis facing north and abuts the north wall of the conservatory (HB26/13/015). The former dwellings form part of the grounds of Stormont Castle (HB26/13/014) and the wider Stormont Estate. Mono-pitched lean-to natural slate roof with black clay ridge tiles to hipped gable (W), lead abutment flashing to the Conservatory parapet and replacement cast-iron guttering and downpipes on iron drive-through brackets fixed belowjust the projecting stone fascia. Coursed rough-hewn sandstone walling with lime pointing (unless otherwise stated). Square-headed window and door openings with voussoired sandstone heads, some of which have fallen and so appear to be slanted. Replacement 6/6 double-hung timber sash windows with part-exposed sash boxes and sandstone sills. Front elevation (N) is built in sandstone with irregularly spaced window and door openings. Replacement timber doors are glazed to the upper half, 3 panes wide by 3 panes high, and sheeted to the lower half. To the east end is a group of three segmental-headed window openings formed in voussoired sandstone with fixed multi-pane timber windows. Six octagonal stone chimney pots, arranged in pairs, peep over the reverse side of the parapet at regular intervals, as does the octagonal glazed lantern with crocketted pinnacles and pineapple finial which forms the entrance to the conservatory behind. When viewed in juxtaposition with these ornate details, the terrace of single storey dwellings appear simple and vernacular in style. The east gable is blank with painted rendered walling which extends to the ridge. The south elevation forms the internal north wall to Stormont Conservatory (HB26/13/015). The walls is built in handmade red brick to the lower half, laid in English garden wall bond, random coursed squared sandstone to the upper half with a series of vertical machine-made brick strips inserted at approximately 1m intervals. The west gable is blank and constructed from random sandstone, which is not coursed. The end of the central spine wall is exposed up to the full abutment height at this gable. Roof Natural slate RWG Cast-iron Walling Coursed rough-hewn sandstone Windows Replacement timber sash 6/6 Setting: The terrace of former dwellings abuts the north wall of Stormont Conservatory (HB26/13/015) to the northwest of Stormont Castle (HB26/13/014). They now serve as offices to Stormont Estate and front onto a bitmac driveway with parking bays opposite; the driveway leads to the Parliament Buildings to the northwest (HB26/13/013).