Shed at building supplies yard ('Minnis Fleck Building Supplies')

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Substantial two storey wood shed of perhaps c.1900 within a builder’s yard, constructed in rubble and timber cladding with Belfast truss roof. The yard is located on the N side of Circular Road, to the SE of Larne town centre.

The buiding is of a ‘squat’ rectangular plan, measuring 15.5m x 11.4. The ground floor level of the gabled front (S) elevation is completely open whilst the upper floor is clad in timber with two window openings and a large central loft door. The W elevation is in random basalt rubble and is abutted by a large [?two storey] lean-to to the left hand side. To the right hand side there rises an open-tread staircase which leads to an upper floor doorway. The E elevation is abutted by a neighbouring structure and is largely obscured from view. The rear (N) elevation could not be seen. The curved roof appears to be felt covered.

Historical information

Built c.1900. 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

A. Style
B. Proportion
F. Structural System

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest
Z. Rarity

Evaluation

A two storey timber store standing within a building supplies yard, built c.1900 and constructed of rubble stone with timber cladding. Rectangular in plan and measuring some 16m x 11m, the structure comprises an open ground floor and single volume first floor assessed by an external stair. The Belfast truss roof comprises six ‘McTear’ trusses and the roof is felted. The building is well preserved and largely unaltered, and is a good example of a medium sized Belfast truss roofed structure in an urban setting. That it is still used for what was likely to have been its original purpose is also of interest.

General comments

Surveyed as part of the Belfast Roof Truss survey.