47 University St., Belfast

47 University Street, Belfast

This is a two-storey mid-terraced townhouse with an attic, built in 1865. It faces north onto University Street in South Belfast, within the Queen's Conservation area, positioned between Nos 45 and 49. The building is part of a stylistically matched group: Nos 47 and 49 were constructed together in 1865, while No 51 followed in 1867. A two-storey return structure abuts the rear at half landing level.

The front elevation is built in red brick laid in Flemish bond, presenting a flat façade with two bays. The entrance doorway is positioned on the right side of the ground floor and is distinguished by an Egyptian-style doorcase with a painted rendered surround featuring chamfered uprights topped by a moulded painted plaster cornice with simplified curved elements at the centre and edges. The replacement timber panelled front door carries a plain overlight displaying the number 47. Ground floor windows flank the door on the left, with a further two windows above on the first floor, their openings not vertically aligned. All front windows are replacement top-hung timber units, single glazed, with painted rendered reveals, splayed brick heads, and painted stone cills.

The front elevation is topped by a pitched roof with artificial slate covering and black clay ridge tiles. Brick chimneys with corbel detailing (rebuilt) rise from the left side and are shared with neighbouring properties, each topped with six clay pots. A dormer window sits at the attic centre, featuring artificial tiled cheeks and a painted timber frame. A plain painted cornice with a supporting gutter runs beneath the roof line, supported on small paired painted stone brackets. The ground floor features a painted rendered plinthe decorated with cast iron ventilation grilles, now painted over. The former front garden is now paved with concrete paviers, and a low brick boundary wall with modern metal railings separates the property from the street and from No 49.

The side elevations to east and west are fully abutted by neighbouring properties and are not exposed.

The rear elevation rises two storeys and incorporates the two-storey return on its left side, built at half landing height. The exposed section contains single window openings on the ground and first floors, unaligned vertically, both fitted with replacement top-hung timber windows and thin painted concrete cills. The ground floor window has a metal grille. An additional small window with a fixed timber pane occupies the attic half-landing level on the left side, positioned above the roof of the return. The wall surfaces are finished in painted pebble dash up to ground floor window head height, with painted render above.

The rear return is pitched with natural Welsh slate covering and black clay ridge tiles. Its walls are finished in painted pebble dash up to first floor level, then painted render above. The eastern elevation of the return, overlooking the rear yard of No 45, contains a first-floor window with fixed timber panes and Georgian wired glazing. The southern gable elevation is blank with a clipped verge and painted finishes matching the side walls.

The return's primary elevation (facing south) comprises, on the ground floor from left to right, two window openings and a door opening; the first floor mirrors this with two window openings from left to right. All these windows are replacement top-hung timber, single glazed units with painted concrete cills, fitted with metal grilles on the ground floor. The back door is replacement timber with two glazed panels in the upper half and a metal grille over its opening. First-floor windows show Georgian wired glazing.

All rainwater goods to the rear are plastic, supported on rise and fall brackets.

The rear yard is laid in concrete flag stones with five steps leading up to University Square Mews. Metal palisade fencing forms the rear boundary. A tarmac parking area occupies part of the yard. The building is currently used as offices.