Longhurst, 174 Upper Malone Road, Belfast, BT17 9JZ

Longhurst is a substantial detached house built around 1893 to designs by Frank Loughborough Pearson in the Arts and Crafts style. The building is L-shaped on plan, comprising two storeys with attic accommodation arranged across multiple bays. It represents a fine example of a substantial villa blending Arts and Crafts principles with English vernacular influences, characterised by asymmetry, sweeping roofs, and eclectic detailing typical of the genre.

The house survives largely unaltered and commands extensive views over the Lagan Valley from its elevated site. It was originally part of the wider demesne of Lismoyne House (now demolished) and is accessed via a private lane from Upper Malone Road, passing the original gatelodge to Lismoyne, which is also listed.

The building displays rich Arts and Crafts detailing throughout. External walls are constructed of handmade bricks with extensive areas of decorative geometric tile-hung cladding featuring bell-cast detail. Windows are leaded with stone, metal and timber framing, generally set forward in the reveals. The roofscape is expansive with swept overhanging eaves interspersed by clipped eaves over framed window openings. Hipped roofs are covered with handmade Rosemary clay red tiles, interspersed with dormered gables that express the primacy of plan form over symmetry and provide light to the attic rooms.

Notable brick detailing includes moulded three-stage star-shaped chimney stacks, with an inglenook arrangement of windows complementing other moulded brick chimneys that enliven the roofscape and modulate the facades. Carved stone is used to good effect, particularly at the entrance, which features a modelled stone porch in Queen Anne style with an original oak panelled door insert and intricate fan patterning. A handsome garden bay in ashlar stonework frames views across the landscaped garden. Date-marked hoppers and cast metal downpipes, together with a dated cast metal weathervane, add further interest to the roofscape.

The northwest entrance elevation presents a two-storey forecourt facade framed with geometric tile hanging to the upper storey over red brick at ground level, except for the stairwell, which is expressed in brick to full height. The main entrance porch is asymmetrically arranged in crisp sandstone detailing in Queen Anne style, featuring fluted sandstone pilasters and moulded egg-and-dart detailing over, with framing of the curved archway in muted Gibbs style rustication. The original oak door has incised carving of intricate fan patterning with panelling below, set in an oak door frame. Original door handles, bells and historic windows flank the porch. Windows at various heights are arranged to suit the function of each room. A single-storey curved brick wall encloses the courtyard, forming an attractive screen in contrast to the main elevation. The servant's quarter, set back from the main massing, has a gablet roof. A covered loggia in the courtyard is accessed via a twelve-panel timber door.

The southwest elevation continues with tile-hung upper storey above red brick ground floor and historic windows set flush within reveals with sandstone surrounds. A string course to window sill detail runs along this elevation. A large three-stage star-shaped brick chimney dominates the facade, capped with clay chimney pots and stepping chimney shoulders, with a pair of small windows framing an inglenook. The removal of the original sunroom from this elevation, replaced by a timber structure, represents a notable alteration from the original design.

The southeast rear elevation features an attic gable half-timbered with two small windows to the centre in a simple quadrant pattern, providing light to the attic. Many original details remain, including the corner window to the upper storey of the right block, cast iron rainwater goods, and a dated weathervane with 1893 incised in metal. A curved single-storey bay with fenestration set in stone mullions with lead cladding to the roof is positioned centrally, with a string course detail forming the sill. Patterned stained glass windows with fixed lights sit above, with uPVC replacements below. Further uPVC replacement windows designed in similar proportions to the originals occupy original stone sills. A new sunroom now replaces the previous porch at the centre. The elevation sits at a height with a garden terrace affording views over the landscape, with brick walling and steps permitting access to lower terrace and lawns.

The northeast elevation features an original corner window with timber surrounds to the upper storey. A sandstone archway to the centre provides a stepped entrance to a setback hardwood door with two-by-three symmetrical frosted windows. Painted red cast iron rainwater goods and a hopper dated 1893 are present. Towards the right block are brick utilitarian storage units confining a courtyard space. This elevation retains historic windows, cast iron rainwater goods and a tiled roof.