Orange Hall

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two-storey/ three windows wide 19thC Orange Hall on the S-side of Newry Street

Pitched artificial slate roof with decorative wall-head gablet (with same roof) to left of centre on front elevation. Cement rendered and painted chimneys, with decorative copings, one to each end gable. Advanced eaves course is carried by brackets and supports the rainwater goods.

Walls are lined rendered with blocked alternating V-channelled stucco quoins. Those to the left are obscured at ground floor by an abutting wall and those to the right are obscured by the adjoining building. Slightly advanced base course with moulded platband. Gablet wall is as the main wall with rectangular plaque inscribed ‘Orange Hall 1869’ with a run moulded frame. Over is a brightly painted stucco fruit basket.

There are three windows to each floor, all set to left of centre. At extreme right of ground floor is the main entrance. All windows are 2/2 modern stained timber casements with decorative surrounds. These consist of a moulded cill supported by two foliated consoles; a moulded stucco architrave with motif topped keystone. All keystones have a decorative dogs head applied to the front, the ground floor left and right ones are topped with fruit baskets, and the central one with a piper. The central one at first floor has a moulded stucco King William III on a white charger.

Entrance door to ground floor right is painted timber with three bottom panels and a glazed top panel. Two-paned transom over.

Both the E and W gables could not be seen in their entirety, however internal evidence suggests that both are devoid of openings. The E gable is finished in plain cement render to the first floor and loft level at least.

Much of the rear elevation is dominated by a very large full height gabled return. To the W face of this there is a timber sheeted door to right on the ground floor, whilst there is a window, with modern timber frame and metal security bars, to left at an intermediate (stair) level between ground and first floor. The entire ground floor level of the gable of the return is completely covered by a large single storey rendered and corrugated iron extension (a billiard hall) with a mainly gabled roof. There is a window to left at landing level between ground and first floor of the gable, with a frame and bars as before. Internal evidence shows that to the ground floor of the E face of the return there is a window with mid 20th century metal frame, but this face itself was obscured from outside view.

The exposed rear face of the main section of the building (i.e. that area to the left hand side of the rear elevation not covered by the return) has a window to ground floor and another to first floor, as W face and gable of return.

The entire rear elevation (outside of the extension) is finished in plain unpainted cement render. The return has a cement rendered chimneystack to its gable, but the covering of the roof of the extension could not be seen. Internal evidence shows that the return roof has a Velux window to the E side. PVC rw goods to rear.

Historical information

1869 Datestone. First recorded in 1870 valuation revision book. It replaced a one-storey roadside dwelling. 1895 valuation entry notes ground floor of hall being used as caretaker’s house.

The roof to the rear portion was replaced in recent times following a fire.

Primary sources:
1. PRONI, valuation revision book, VAL 12B/22/20A, p.134; /20F, p.191.
2. Datestone on building.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

An attractive façade marred by the insertion of modern windows. The interior has lost details as well and is not of special architectural or historic interest.

General comments

Lodge Member _ Mr John Quinn - 4063 0565
Key Holder Mr Hollingsworth 07721 882 131