Masonic Lodge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A symmetrical three-bay two-storey rendered Masonic Lodge in the classical style, built in1886 to designs by William Fennell and situated to the west side of Lodge Road in Coleraine town centre. Rectangular on plan with central breakfront and projecting pedimented porch; two-storey return and single-storey lean-to extension to rear.

Pitched natural slate roof with blue/black angled ridge tiles behind a plain parapet. Cast-iron ogee rainwater goods behind parapet. Walling is painted smooth render on a contrasting plinth with channel-jointed rustication to ground floor and raised quoins to first floor; plain frieze with moulded string-course between floors; decorated moulded string-course at impost level to first floor; unpainted smooth render to gables and rear elevation. Windows are generally replacement uPVC in plain reveals with projecting painted sills; round-headed at first floor, divided by pilasters with impost mouldings and having recessed moulded apron panels; continuous sills at ground floor.

The principal elevation faces northeast and is symmetrically arranged about a central breakfront rising above parapet; projecting single-storey classical-style porch at ground floor. Porch has a triangular pediment containing painted emblem of compass and set square surrounding by rays of sunlight; plain frieze has lettering reading ‘AUDI VIDE TACE’ (translating as ‘Hear, See, Be Silent’); entablature supported on plain pilasters. Recessed entrance comprises bolection-moulded six-panel double-leaf timber doors and plain round-headed transom light set into a plain reveal, framed by corner pilasters with decoratively carved capitals and spandrel mouldings. Porch accessed by a set of original four stone steps with modern metal handrail enclosed by plinth walls. Roundel tableau to breakfront above porch depicts two winged figures standing on a banner and flanking a decorated shield.

The southeast gable has a replacement round-headed stained glass stairwell window at left, over four windows of various sizes at ground floor. Original 2/2 timber sash window with horns to ground floor left.

The southwest (rear) elevation has three irregularly spaced windows at first floor over rendered lean-to extension at ground floor, with artificial slate roof, replacement plastic fascia and rainwater goods; opening to northwest with an original timber-sheeted door accessed by three concrete steps. Abutted at right by the two-storey gabled return (lower) lit by variety of large modern window openings, with replacement panelled-and-glazed timber door to southwest.

The northwest gable has two window openings at ground floor.

Setting:

Situated to the west side of Lodge Road, set back from the road in line with the neighbouring terrace to northwest, with Coleraine Police Station to southeast and opposite a well-preserved mid to late-Victorian terrace (HB03/17/003A-P). Lawned to front with central concrete paved pathway leading to entrance. To either gable is a set of square stone piers with pointed sandstone caps supporting original cast-iron latch gates. Small yard to rear, enclosed to southwest by a rubblestone wall with freestone caps; cement rendered to northwest containing a timber-sheeted gate. Lawned garden to rear has a concrete mid-nineteenth-century lean-to shed. Care-takers accommodation housed in the rear return.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: Painted smooth render
Windows: Generally uPVC
RWG: Cast-iron

Historical information

The foundation stone of the Masonic Hall in Coleraine was laid in 1886. The architect was William John Fennell, principally known for the Water Commissioner’s office and the Mater Infirmorum hospital, both in Belfast (www.dia.ie). The contractor was J D Prenter. The hall was set back from the road’s edge in order to be in line with villas that were later built along Lodge Road and was built on a piece of land where travelling shows and circuses once pitched their tents (Mullin). The building entered valuation records in 1887 at a valuation of £30 and was leased by the Committee of Masonic Halls initially from James Johnston and then Daniel Taylor (1889). The hall was said to have cost £1100 to build and is first shown on the large-scale map of Coleraine dating from 1904. In 1911 the caretaker was plasterer James Thompson who lived at the rear of the Hall in caretaker’s accommodation with his wife (1911 census).

Valuer’s notes of the 1930s record the accommodation in the Hall as on the ground floor; a dining hall, cloak room, gents and ladies WCs, a kitchen and boiler house. On the first floor was a Lodge Room, cloak room, ante room and WC. The associated plan shows the Hall with porch, two-storey return housing caretaker’s accommodation and a yard containing a number of single-storey structures such as a WC and boiler house. Stout iron rails six feet in height and iron double gates with a concrete wall stood at the entrance (now gone) and the hall had central heating and gas lighting. The dining hall was not much used at this time as most Masonic dinners were held in the Town Hall but the Lodge room had a partly open roof which was ‘wood lined to give a handsome and imposing apartment with top ventilation’ (still present). The hall was shared by a number of lodges and was therefore used more frequently than others but no meetings were held from July to September (Valuation records). The building remains a Masonic hall and the rear return continues to be used as caretaker’s accommodation.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/5/7/1 First Edition OS Map 1830
2. PRONI OS/6/5/7/2 Second Edition OS map 1849-50
3. PRONI OS/6/5/7/3 Third Edition OS Map 1904
4. PRONI OS/6/5/7/4 Fourth Edition OS Map 1923
5. PRONI OS/6/5/7/5 Fifth Edition OS Map 1949
6. PRONI VAL/12/B/30/9A-N Annual Revisions (1864-1929)
7. PRONI VAL/3/C/6/4 First General Revaluation 1933-57
8. PRONI VAL/3/D/6/2/A/24 First General Revaluation 1933-57
9. 1911 census

Secondary Sources

1. Mullin, Rev T H “Coleraine in Modern Times” Belfast: Century Services Ltd, 1979

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A symmetrical three-bay two-storey rendered Masonic Lodge, built in 1886 to designs by William Fennell and situated to the west side of Lodge Road in Coleraine town centre. Although it retains some of its original detailing, it does not have quality interiors, it has replacement windows and the original chimneys have been removed. It is not of special architectural or historic interest.