Former Technical School

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A symmetrical two-storey building of red brick with red sandstone dressings in a free treatment of Renaissance style. Central round-arched entrance of rusticated stone surmounted by a stone balcony supported on curved stone brackets. Open triangular pediments to the projecting end bays and curving segmental open pediment to the central entrance bay. Rectangular sliding sash windows, vertically hung, 8 over 8, with horns, below top-hung four-pane vents, set in shallow segmental arches to the entrance front and to most of the side elevations.

Setting: the building stands on its own within the built-up area of the town, facing a main road and slightly set back from it, with the site sloping toward the rear. It is flanked on one side by a terrace of houses and on the other by a public park.

Historical information

Built in 1911 as Larne Technical School; architect, James Heron of Hobart and Heron, of Belfast. In 1950s became Local Government Offices. The building lies in the area of a scheduled monument, no. ANT 40:35.

References - Primary

1. Irish Builder, 15 October 1910, p 644.
2. Larne Weekly Telegraph, 23 September 1911.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

An example of an Edwardian building which retains its original exterior features but has lost any original character there may have been to the interior. It presents a dignified and unspoiled appearance to the street but is a dull and generally uninteresting example of Edwardian architecture.