Masonic Hall

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Single storey / two bay (with basement) 20thC Masonic hall, on hill to N-side of John Street. Left (narrow) bay contains the entrance and right (wide) bay is the hall.

Pitched natural slate roof with two chimneys: one on party wall and one rising from wall head at rear (not visible from street). Both chimneys are rendered with moulded projecting copings. Half-round metal rainwater goods with downpipe at right end of street façade.

Front elevation to street is line cement rendered and painted. Modern door to extreme left with roll moulded stop-end chamfered reveals.

There are five circular window openings, all in line and equally spaced except for extreme left one, which is aligned over entrance door. All are set within semicircular reveals (detailed as door) with painted sloping concrete cills and have stained and leaded glass. The left and right windows depict an eye set within a tower, the second from left depicts a crossed hammer and chisel, the third (central) a draughtman’s compass; the fourth window depicts a star and has an infilled and rendered over door below.

Rear elevation is two storeys, as ground falls away. It is smooth rendered and unpainted. Abutted to ground floor centre by lean-to porch. Remaining wall at ground floor left is blank and at right there is a steel casement window. The upper floor has two 1/1 sliding sash windows (stained glass) with granite cills. To their right are two metal casements with concrete cills.

The porch has a lean-to natural slate roof and walls as rear elevation. Its rear wall is blank. Its left cheek has a t+g sheeted timber door and its right cheek has a small 1/1 sliding sash window. A rubble stone wall (partially collapsed) encloses rear yard.

Historical information

A terrace of houses are first shown here on the 1860 OS 1:500 valuation map- this hall is on the plot occupied by two of them. From c.1878 they were used as stores, but were vacant from 1891. Acquired by the Masonic order in 1902.

Primary sources:
1. PRONI OS 1:500 Valuation map, 1860 VAL2A/3/41D
2. PRONI Valuation book, c.1862 VAL 2B/3/60B (entries 10,11).
3. PRONI Valuation revision books, VAL 12B/22/20A, p.140; /20C, p.58; /20F, p.199.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

This building's unusual street frontage has an element of townscape importance, while its Lodge Hall retains most of its attractive original features. It is, however, of local interest only.