Shed at scrapyard

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Long single storey shed of 1946 with brick and corrugated metal façade and a curved roof partly constructed with Belfast Trusses. The building is sited to the W side of a scrap yard on the N side of Obins Street.

The building is roughly rectangular in plan but with the S elevation skewed slightly. The front (S) elevation is in brick with a stepped parapet, rendered in-out quoins, dressings and coping. To the W side the elevation merges with a short garden wall in identical brick whilst to the E it merges with a much taller rendered wall. There is a central flat arched vehicle entrance with timber-sheeted door. The E, W and N elevations are in corrugated metal and do not appear to have any openings.

The curved roof and the roof of the lean-to section are in corrugated metal (some of which has fallen off).

Historical information

This shed was built by the present owner’s father in 1946, who originally used the yard for the reconditioning of jeeps and other vehicles.

References- Secondary sources
1 Information supplied by the present owner (January 2003)

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

Long single storey shed of 1946 with brick and corrugated metal façade and a roof partly constructed with Belfast Trusses. A relatively late example of a Belfast Truss-roofed building which may have witnessed significant alteration.

General comments

Surveyed as part of the Belfast Roof Truss survey.