Church hall

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Gabled 1890s church hall aligned N-S on S-side of Newry Street. Front gable is N facing and there is a large modern extension to S end.

New pitched artificial slate roof and overhanging eaves supporting steel rainwater goods. N gable has projecting timber bargeboard with two pairs of decorative timber brackets and finial; its apex is infilled with diagonal t + g sheeting which has been wavy-cut at bottom. Walls are unpainted lined cement render with a chamfered base course and band rusticated stucco quoins to corners.

Front (N) gable is abutted to left of centre by entrance porch. Its remaining wall has a moulded stringcourse across gable above which are two stucco panels stating “Erected” “AD 1896”. To ground floor right is a segmental headed window opening with raised key block, containing two fixed rectangular lights with three-paned segmental headed transom (bottom hung), over. Original irregular coloured glazing to transom. Granite cill has moulded apron.

Entrance porch has a new pitched artificial slate roof with decorative fretted bargeboard on decorative brackets (finial gone and no rainwater goods). Walls as main block. Its front (N) gable has a moulded stringcourse running between the upper pair of decorative brackets. This gable contains the main entrance which consists of a pair of original painted timber doors, each with three stop-end chamfered panels with diagonal timber infill; top panels are round head with incised spandrel. Door case is an ogee arch opening with run moulded architrave. Over entrance is similarly shaped hood mould. Mounted on wall above is a modern light.

Left and right cheeks of the porch each have a single opening each with ½ window, granite cill and stucco apron. That on right cheek has a modern security grille over.

Left (E) elevation of main hall is three windows wide. All are segmental headed and detailed as that to front gable.

The S (rear) gable is abutted by long low 1989 extension of no interest.

Right (W) elevation is identical with additional external grilles to windows.

Boundary to S and E is enclosed by high granite rubble stone wall. Lower rendered wall to street frontage carrying wrought iron railings with cast-iron heads. Large matching gates to entrance door are held on tall (2m) one-piece granite posts.

Historical information

Erected as a lecture hall by congregation of 3rd Rathfriland Presbyterian Church in 1897. This hall now serves both the 2nd (HB16/08/022) and 3rd (HB16/08/019) Presbyterian Churches, both on Newry Street.

Primary Sources:
1. Datestone
2. PRONI, Valuation revision books, VAL 12B/22/20F, p.188 (entry of 1897).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

This attractive hall has been re-roofed and much altered internally. Of no special architectural or historic interest.