Bellarena Station

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

The larger of the two stations in the Magilligan ward. A long low building stepping up to the two storey engine shed (number 306) by placing two gables perpendicular to the general run of roofs. The building is parallel to the line and faces north west overlooking the rails. It is decorated in polychrome brickwork in Ruskinian style. To the north eastern end are the toilets under the lowest roof. The barge is richly decorated and supported on the end of three moulded timber purlins, one at the ridge two at the eaves - a motif repeated elsewhere on the building. Access to the platform is from the road at this point. On the platform side there are two wide panelled doors to stores and two sash windows. The doors and one window have a painted stone lintel. The first gable breaks the roof line at this point with a rendered chimney at the junction with the lower roof. Its facade has a high level window and a blank lower area with the name of the station done in tiles. Between this gable and the next is the timber facade of the ticket office. Its eaves have a fine decorated fascia board, a timber bay window sits out under. The second gable is two storey. Two arched windows with brick hood mouldings to lower floor, two smaller similar windows above. A brick chimney with three pots on the ridge aligns with the lower roofs. Carrying along the platform the engine shed is converted into a two storey building rendered on top half sitting on top of polychrome brick lower portion aligning with the ticket office.

To the south western side of the station two small sash windows light the toilets with a chimney between at eaves level.
The first gable again has a small high level opening with a blank pane. A semi-circular window below sits on top of a projecting garage/former store.

The back of the ticket office is blank to the road with the exception of one large double door near the second gable with a base at platform level and thus one metre approximately above ground level. The second gable projects one bay from the line of the building with an arched window at ground and first level to the side. The main facade has one arched window at first floor and a porch with one window at ground level (all windows to the station masters house are new). It is entered on the side. A single storey two bay wing with similar windows forms a lean-to to the former engine shed behind.

Historical information

Designed by John Lanyon architect and built 1873-5. Used as a station until 1960s. Sold by N. I. R to the present owner (1997) 5-7 years ago. N. I. R. still own the platform, and trains have been stopping at the station again since the early 1980s.

References:

JRL Currie The Northern Counties Railway

Industrial Archaeology Record Ref: 1339:28

Historic Buildings Records

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A mid-Victorian station building competently handled and detailed but lacking the exuberance of Magilligan halt. The composition is unfortunately ruined by the renovations to number 306 (the former engine shed) next door.