Ardleevan, 178 Upper Malone Road, Belfast, BT17 9JZ

Ardleevan is an Arts and Crafts style house built between 1920 and 1939 by the architects Blackwood and Jury. Located off a long private road to the east of Upper Malone Road in South Belfast, it was originally constructed for Major Charles Grimshaw Duffin, a descendant of the Barbour and Riddel families, within the former grounds of Lismoyne House, a mansion pre-dating the first Ordnance Survey map of 1832-3. It was the second dwelling added to the northwest of that demesne, over thirty years after the original house.

The house is two storeys plus an attic, designed with an asymmetrical plan. Key features include rosemary-tiled sweeping roofs, tall brick chimneys, a sandstone entrance porch with carved foliate spandrels, and eclectic detailing, all characteristic of the Arts and Crafts style. Much of the original internal character has been retained, including the timber staircase, joinery, and fireplaces.

Between 1963 and 1988, Ardleevan was divided into two separate dwellings, numbered 178 (to the southwest) and 180 (to the northeast); number 178 includes an early swimming pool. Despite this division, the footprint of number 178 has not significantly altered since its construction. The house sits within expansive grounds, the main southeast elevation taking advantage of sweeping views across formal gardens and the Lagan Valley.

The landscaping and boundary treatments have been understated and do not detract from the setting, with ownerships discreetly separated. The building retains much of its original fabric and detailing, considered one of Percy Jury’s most noteworthy domestic designs. The immediate setting includes terraced lawns, an early swimming pool, a pergola, sundial, and water features. The listing includes the house, steps to the front door, patio walls to the front garden, the outdoor pool and its surrounding walls.