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| 11 Wellington Place (Timothy Ferres, 2024) |
11, Wellington Place, Belfast, has rather an interesting history.
Today it fast approaches its bicentenary, having been completed in 1830 with five other town-houses, forming a terrace.
The entrance boasts an Ionic portico.
Dr Stephenson purchased number 11 from the McClean Estate.
A dental surgeon, Dr Richard Barnett, was residing at number eleven in 1877.
By 1918, the ground floor had become an emporium known as "Edison House," which sold "Cycles, Household Utensils, Phonographs, Gramophones, Pathéphones, and Records; Books, Filters, Mangles, Oil Stoves, Doall Mop Wringer, Bissell Carpet Sweepers and Palestine Olivewood Goods."
Of the six, numbers seven, nine, and eleven survive.
The terrace was erected by the Belfast business man and, indeed, amateur architect, Adam McClean.
This Georgian property comprises four storeys and three bays.
Behind today's dour grey paint at first floor level the bricks are red.
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| Portico, 11 Wellington Place (Timothy Ferres, 2024) |
The entrance boasts an Ionic portico.
The first recorded occupant of number eleven was Thomas Ferguson, who lived here for about 12 years; followed by a physician, Dr Robert Stephenson, who resided in the house until 1869.
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| Greek key pattern featuring above porch (Timothy Ferres, 2024) |
Dr Stephenson purchased number 11 from the McClean Estate.
When he died in 1869, the house passed to his nephew, David McCance (who himself lived at the adjacent number 9).
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| Partial view of 11 Wellington Place, to the left (Image: Hogg Collection/NMNI) |
A dental surgeon, Dr Richard Barnett, was residing at number eleven in 1877.
Residential ownership seemed to cease by 1898, when the property had been bought by Alex McCullough, and occupied by Ellen Brady, who converted it into the Royal Hotel, with no less than 22 rooms.
The Royal Hotel ceased trading by 1914, when the property was converted into commercial premises; and a shop-front was fitted.
The ground floor operated as a florist's shop and nursery, Frank E Smith and Co.
This general store lasted for 12 years, and in 1930 Jane Hackney carried out business in the premises.
In 1954, the Carlton lounge bar and grill moved from their original premises in Donegall Place, and remained till at least 1993.
Today an Asian restaurant operates on the ground floor.
Buildings erected between 1714 and 1901 are usually described, depending on when built, as either Georgian or Victorian, but it’s rare to see anything built during the span of years between 1830 and 1837 as Williamite. This one may have been Williamite rather than Georgian.
ReplyDeleteIt has had a long, hard life but looks like it has stood the test of time. I wonder if the same will be said about the overpriced houses built these days.
ReplyDelete