43-47 University Road, Belfast

43-47, University Road, Belfast (Image: InsideOut NI)

43-47, UNIVERSITY ROAD, Belfast, an elegant and neat terrace, very possibly the oldest property in the city's University Quarter.

Trevor Carleton MA, my former geography master writing in the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society's Historic Buildings in the Vicinity of the Queen's University of Belfast (revised edition, 1980), dates this terrace to circa 1830; other sources suggest 1840; so between 1830 and 1840 seems plausible.

This charming little terrace, opposite University Square, consists of two storeys in lovely cinnamon-coloured brick, with double-pitched mansard roof and recessed dormers.

A historic map of about 1830 shows the terrace prior to the development of University Square and Queen's University itself.

Incidentally, do any readers have knowledge of the brewery which stood at the Lisburn Road?

Historic OS map of ca 1830

The terrace suffered some bomb damage in the 1970s or 80s, following which most of the glazing bars were removed.

More recently, however, the terrace has been admirably and faithfully restored by InsideOut NI.

In 1974 this terrace comprised three flats.