Shop ('Carparts')

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Relatively large two storey brick-built shop with Belfast Truss roof, possibly formerly a warehouse built c.1905-15. The building is set on the S side of Union Street, to the N of Coleraine town centre.

The building is rectangular in plan measuring roughly 36.5m x 10.4. The façade is wholly in brick. The front (N) gabled elevation has a symmetrical arrangement of openings with a large segmental arched door screen to the ground floor with a relatively large segmental headed window to each side. To the first floor are three similar sized windows with what appear to be the original sash frames (4 panes over 2 in typical Edwardian manner). The curved gable rises into a flat-topped central section within which there is a large rectangular [?stone] panel with the name ‘BARRIE’ spelt out in moulded letters. The gable is topped a [?stone] parapet with kneelers. Above the ground floor openings the shop name (‘CARPARTS’) is spelt out in very large raised plastic lettering.

The long W elevation has a row of square-ish windows running along the entire length. The long E elevation has a similar row to the first floor but the ground floor sports doors of various size (three large vehicle doors and two pedestrian ones), whilst a metal staircase rises to the left hand side. The rear elevation has two square-ish windows to the first floor. The curved roof has a felt covering and internal evidence shows that it also has a row of centrally located skylights.

Tarmac covered car park / loading bay to W and S of building.

Historical information

This building may date from c.1905-15 and appears to have been built as a warehouse.

The Belfast truss was developed in the mid-nineteenth century to meet the demand for efficient, lightweight and long span roofs brought about by the industrial revolution. A detailed description of the historical development of the Belfast truss is included in the record for HB18/08/139. In brief, the first known reference to a curved wooden felted roof structure supported by bowstring girders is in an advertisement in the Dublin Builder for 1866 by the Belfast firm of felt-makers, McTear & Co. McTear’s continued making trusses until they went out of business in 1908.

A second Belfast felt supplier, Anderson & Co., began to produce trusses, to a slightly different design, in 1886. In 1896, Anderson’s launched their Mk II version; promoted as maximising long spans whilst maintaining light weight. This model was subsequently used by other companies, and is referred to by historians as the Belfast truss, although this term is widely used to apply to all timber bowstring trusses where the internal bracing members meet not on the bottom of the truss as was the convention but on the top curved member.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Relatively large two storey brick-built shop with Belfast Truss roof, possibly formerly a warehouse built c.1905-15. One of the more distinctive examples of a Belfast Truss-roofed building but with significant internal alterations.