Masonic Lodge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached gable-fronted two-storey three-bay rendered Masonic hall, dated 1926. Rectangular on plan facing west, set back slightly on the east side of Culvacullion Road.

Pitched natural slate roof, roll-moulded terracotta ridge tiles and a gable to the north side elevation. Plastic boxed fascia to eaves and plastic decorative bargeboard to front gable, with replacement tin rainwater goods. Cement pebble dash rendered walls with rusticated rendered quoins and smooth rendered plinth course. Square-headed window openings with moulded architrave surrounds having rendered keystones, concrete sills and boarded up windows.

Gabled three-bay two-storey west front elevation comprises a tripartite window arrangement at first floor level with a round-headed window opening having moulded architrave surround and fluted pilasters flanked by square-headed window openings on a single concrete sill course. To the gable above is a semi-circular rendered plaque stating ‘MASONIC HALL’ in raised lettering with a further circular plaque above showing the Masonic emblem in relief. A central square-headed door opening is flanked by a pair of fluted pilasters and entablature above with a rectangular plaque having ‘1926’ in raised lettering. A replacement double-leaf vertically-sheeted hardwood door opens onto two concrete paved steps to the front bitmac area.

Three-bay two-storey rendered north side elevation with an off-centre gable between the two left bays. Redbrick wall appears to the apex of the gable.

The rear east gable is blank with a single-storey gable-ended extension, built c.2006, with a pitched sheeted-iron roof.

South side elevation is three-bays wide with a further window opening between floors to the left.

Setting:-
Bitmac hardstandings to entire site enclosed to the north by a hedge, to the east by a timber fence and to the south and to the street by a pebbledash rendered wall with concrete coping and opening to the street by two pairs of rendered piers with a pedestrian steel gate to the south and a pair of vehicular steel gates to the north.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: Cement based render
Windows: Concealed
RWG: Tin

Historical information

The hall first appears captioned ‘Mas. Hall’ on the fourth edition of the OS map (1953).

In 1928 it is written into Annual Revision records as a Masonic Hall and garden valued at £6 and 10s for the garden. The ‘Trustees Masonic Hall’ hold it in fee.

Valuers note in 1933 that the hall cost ‘£800 and £100 for site’ in 1927 and the dimensions are 25x48x28. They also raise the valuation to £18. In 1935 the hall trustees make a request for a reduction in the valuation, saying that “Property ten miles from Omagh and therefore cannot attract people from a distance. Property situate among poor farmers.” The valuation is consequently reduced to £15.

In 1940 the ground floor, consisting of two rooms; a reception room and small ante-room, was temporarily occupied by the military under Defence Regulations. The first floor continued to be used by the Masonic Lodge as their lodge room.

References:
Primary Sources
1.PRONI OS/6/6/18/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map (1953)
2.PRONI VAL/12/B/39/6A-E – Annual Revisions Records (1867-1929)
3.PRONI VAL/3/D/7/8W/3 – Valuers RV Binder (1933-57)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A plain Masonic hall, now disused, close to the centre of Gortin, built c.1928. This hall resembles most other such halls in the region which, in common with other examples, employs an austere two-storey gabled front elevation and restrained external decoration. However, it is of a late date and not one of the best examples of the type.