8 Bath Street, Portrush, Co. Antrim, BT56 8AW

8 Bath Street is a two-bay, three-storey-over-basement rendered terraced house with dormer to attic, built around 1860 and located on the south side of Bath Street in Portrush town centre. The building forms part of a significant semi-detached pair with number 6, which together represent amongst the best examples of mid-Victorian townhouses in Portrush, despite alterations made over time.

The house is square on plan with a three-storey canted bay to the front, a three-storey return and a two-storey modern extension to the rear. The pitched natural slate roof carries a rendered chimneystack. Cast-iron ogee rainwater goods sit on modillioned eaves. The walling is painted smooth render with a plain frieze under the eaves; roughcast render appears to the gable.

The principal elevation faces northwest. The full-height canted bay occupies the left portion, whilst the right bay contains windows to the upper floors and a classical-style doorcase at ground floor. The doorcase is a notable feature, comprising a replacement panelled-and-glazed timber door with transom light in a timber panelled reveal, flanked by panelled pilasters with a mid-level circular motif. Above sits a Greek-key frieze and a dentilled pediment on foliated consoles. The door is accessed via seven sandstone steps enclosed by a decorative cast-iron balustrade. To the left, a separate set of stone steps descends to the basement, with a modern panelled-and-glazed timber door and modern window.

The current windows are predominantly replacement uPVC to the upper floors, with 1/1 timber-framed sash windows without horns to the ground floor, and a timber casement to the basement. All windows have projecting painted sills, continuous to the first floor. A gabled dormer lights the attic.

The northeast elevation has two windows to attic and second floor, a window to the left at first floor and two modern windows to the left at ground floor. The southeast rear elevation is abutted to the left by the three-storey return, forming a gable with the return of the adjoining building. This return contains a variety of modern uPVC window openings and is partially abutted by the two-storey modern extension. The southwest elevation is fully abutted by the adjoining building.

The house is street-fronted and situated between Main Street and the coastal path in the town centre, surrounded by terraced residential and mixed-use buildings dating from the mid-Victorian period. A twenty-first century three-storey modern apartment block occupies the northwest corner site. A lane to the northwest leads to a modern roughcast rendered garage, providing access to an enclosed rear yard.

Historical background indicates that the semi-detached pair was completed in 1861 by developer Constantine Dornan of Portrush. The buildings were advertised as 'splendid marine residences' in the Belfast Newsletter in April 1861, erected 'at considerable expense, with all the Modern Improvements in Buildings'. The original accommodation was generous, comprising front and back drawing rooms and dining rooms, eight bedrooms, two water closets, shower and plunge baths, butler's, housemaid's and mistress's pantries, kitchen, servants' hall, larder, wine cellar and coal vaults. A coach-house, stable and hay-loft stood to the rear. The houses had never-failing spring water and direct sewerage to the sea. An annual rent of £52 10 shillings was initially suggested.

According to Griffith's Valuation, the site was a building ground leased by Constantine Dornan, with the buildings first recorded in the Annual Revisions of 1863 at £36 each. Constantine Dornan initially occupied the houses, which remained unsold, before they were later occupied by Robert Erskine. In the late 1880s the house was let to Dorah McClintock. The 1901 census recorded Alexander Maxwell, a building contractor from Ballymacall, at number 8, living with his English wife, their four-year-old son, two female boarders (one a nurse, one from County Limerick), and an employed servant girl aged 17. By 1911, both dwellings were recorded as boarding houses, though only number 6 was occupied at that date.

The houses passed through successive tenancies until 1932, when two-storey extensions were added to the rear of both buildings, increasing the valuation to £48. Number 8 became a youth centre known as Haddon House in 1945. No structural alterations were made to the building itself during this period. The centre accommodated approximately 44 boys and girls engaged in woodwork, handicrafts and recreation. Members ran their own canteen, paying a subscription of 3 pence per week. The Ministry of Education granted up to 75 per cent of approved expenditure including rent, the leader's salary and furniture purchase, with the remainder derived from donations and fundraising events such as dances and whist drives.

By 1952, the house had ceased to function as a youth centre and was used as auction rooms and for the repair of second-hand furniture. The building was listed in 1983. All windows except those to the ground floor were replaced in the 1980s, and permission was sought to run a shop in the basement.

Despite replacement uPVC windows and entrance door, which detract from the original character, the building retains much historic detailing both externally and internally. The excellently detailed pedimented doors to this semi-detached pair are particularly noted. The pair remain historically and architecturally significant, demonstrating mid-Victorian residential development in Portrush and retaining group value as complementary structures.