Newbath House, 105 Shore Road, Greenisland, Co Antrim BT38 8TZ

Newbath House is a semi-detached three-bay two-storey Georgian house built around 1820, situated to the east of Shore Road in Greenisland. It represents a good example of a dwelling from this period and is positioned within a secluded shore-front setting with views over Belfast Lough, sharing this location with its pair (105 Shore Road).

The house is rectangular on plan with a single-storey hipped-roof return to the north-west (shared with the adjacent property), a two-storey return to the centre at the rear, and a single-storey flat-roofed extension to the west. The roof is pitched natural slate with clay ridge tiles, and there are two rendered chimneys with original pots. The walling is ruled-and-lined rendered finish over a smooth banded plinth, with roughcast applied to the extensions.

The principal elevation faces south and is symmetrical, with three bays arranged about a central elliptical-headed opening with moulded surround. Each bay contains a square-headed 6/6 timber-framed sliding sash window with secondary glazing and masonry sills. The central elliptical-headed opening features an original timber six-panelled raised-and-fielded entrance door, flanked by timber panelled pilasters with sidelights and original lanterns, surmounted by a sunburst fanlight. The entrance is accessed by sandstone steps. Cast-iron ogee-profile gutters with round downpipes drain the original sections, with uPVC gutters serving the extensions.

The west elevation is abutted by 107 Shore Road and by a shared return, with a gabled rubble outbuilding to the left. The north elevation is abutted by the return at left and by the shared return at right, with an exposed first-floor section containing a single window.

The east gable has been substantially altered and extended in recent years. A bowed sunroom with a large curved timber window extends at ground floor, surmounted by parapet walling and a modern steel railing to the first-floor balcony. The exposed first-floor section comprises a replacement uPVC glazed door to the left and a uPVC casement window to the right in smooth rendered surrounds. A single-storey flat-roofed extension to the right contains a rectangular timber-framed window with a canopy over a recent entrance door accessed by a raised patio. Behind this is a central two-storey lean-to return containing a bowed glass block window. A gabled outbuilding to the right comprises a square-headed garage door opening at ground floor and a timber panelled door with glazing at first floor. A modern pool-house stands to the north.

Although the building has been extended in recent years with distinctly modern additions, the original Georgian character has been largely retained, and main features remain intact, including the attractive entrance and original windows. The property is set within mature gardens to north and south. A pitched rubble outbuilding stands to the north. The eastern boundary to the shore is defined by modern railings on recent rubble walling, while the western boundary to Shore Road is bounded by rock-faced stone walling. A stream to the north of the site runs into the sea to the north-east, accessed by masonry steps from the rear of the adjacent property.

Historical records show that the building appears in its current form on the second edition Ordnance Survey map of 1857 and is captioned 'New Bath' in the third edition map of 1902. The first edition map of 1832 shows a building of similar orientation. Griffith's Valuation records from 1859 describe 'two bathing lodges, offices and pleasure grounds'. Each property was initially valued at £20, later revised to £22, and was held by Thomas Johnston in fee. The valuation entry was divided into sections A and B, with Isabella Johnston recorded as occupier of section A from 1896 and Thomas Johnston of section B from 1902. The property description was revised from 'bathing house, offices and land' in 1896 to 'house, office and land', suggesting a change from bathing house use to residential use from that date. In 1922 one of the properties was recorded as vacant.