Gospel Hall

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two storey four bay former courthouse with pedimented sandstone gable facing north west onto Irish green Street. Ground floor of gable painted. Two rectangular windows (now with stained glass) flank central undecorated double entrance door with plain rectangular fanlight. String course above which extends along sides of building. At first floor two curved blank niches flank a central painted aedicule: Doric columns rise from the string course to support a pediment and flank a round headed window. Its cill aligns with the base of the niches but this makes its proportion quite squat. In the tympanum of the main portico to the attic is a central painted plaque: ‘Gospel Hall 1927’. The stonework to this facade is decayed and in need of restoration.

To each side the upper floor is random rubble whinstone with brick arches over the four tall round headed windows. The window to the front of the building is a little out of sequence with the rest. The string course and ground floor is rendered in sand cement. Four rectangular windows align with those above. The windows are casements with a Georgian sub-division of panes.
The roof is corrugated asbestos sheeting.

To the rear the building is rendered and painted with stone quoins at first floor. There are no openings.

The hall sits on an open tarmaced site. A cast iron railing runs along the length of the site on Irish Green Street. The front of the building it is on top of a 400mm high rendered wall but does not change its level.

Historical information

Built by the Grand Jury in 1830 at a cost of £950 with a bridewell attached. On the site of a petty sessions building shown on the 1830 map. It was used as Limavady Courthouse until the present courthouse (HB02/12/007) was built on Main street in 1914. The building was used as a garage for a number of years before being converted into the present Gospel Hall in 1927. The bridewell shown to the rear of the building on the 1907 map was demolished in these renovations. Steps rising along the facade to the front door seem to be indicated on this map (which might account for the awkward proportion of the present window) Girvan suggests that the building was designed by Robert Given .

References:

Mullan T E, Limavady and the Roe Valley
Girvan W D Buildings of North Derry UAHS

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A substantially altered building of 1830 with an important historical association with Limavady as its former courthouse. In need of renovation, its facade is oddly proportioned around the entrance which detracts from the present appearance. The irregular spacing of the front bay on each side also reduces its proportional quality. However as a stone faced public building it adds character to its surroundings on Irish Green Street. Does not merit listing.