12 Upper Crescent, Belfast, Co Antrim, BT7 1NT

Relatively large three storey rendered town house, one of regency style crescent of ten similar, (but not identical) properties built in 1846 and now converted to offices and flats. The grouping, ‘Upper Crescent’, is set to the E of University Road and faces, over a small public park, Lower Crescent- a similar styled development of 1852 which unlike its counterpart is arranged in straight terrace rather than crescent form. This property is set to the west end of the row and is one of the more ornate buildings of the grouping, having large two storey Corinthian columns to front. The front elevation is asymmetrical and faces roughly N. To the right on the ground floor is the entrance, which consists of a recessed timber panelled door with panelled pilaster jambs and rectangular fanlight. Two stone steps to door. To the left of the doorway are two tall plain sash windows. To the first floor are three larger windows set on a cill course. These have regency style sash frames (horizontal panes, 4/8). To the second floor are three pairs of narrow, semicircular headed plain sash windows. These windows rest on a more pronounced (cornice-like) cill course projection with dentillations. The ground floor level is finished in rusticated render, with the upper floors in plain render. Four large, evenly spaced Corinthian ¾ columns span the ground and first floor heights and support a projecting frieze below second floor cill course level. The column to far left is square. Corresponding with these pilasters to the second floor are four panelled pilasters which rise to form parapet piers with a pierced, balustrade-like, parapet between them. The front elevation is painted, with different colours used to highlight the columns and pilasters. The rear elevation could not be seen in its entirety. To the left hand (W) side is the two storey gabled return. To the ground floor of the gable of the return there are two windows with modern frames. To the right the return merges with another two storey projection. There is a timber sheeted double door to the ground floor of the projection, with a window, with modern frame, to its right. Both the gable and the S face of the projection are finished in a recent roughcast render. Internal evidence suggests that the ground floor of the return and the projection have been extended, and that, consequently, the ground floor level of the façade of the main portion of the building is now completely coved up. There is a window and another to the right on the first floor one to right on the second floor. The latter window has been enlarged and has a modern frame, the former appears to have a plain sash frame. There is another (stairwell) window to left between first and second floors, with plain sash frame. The rear façade is in brick. The gabled roof is slated. Two skylight windows to rear. There is a tall rendered chimneystack, with projecting coping and uniform pots, to E. Cast iron rw goods.