Former Town Hall

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two storey/ three bay mid 19thC building on N side of Church Street. Unlike rest of buildings in the street, it is set back from the street line and detached. Abutting its rear is a public hall (HB16/11/038).

Pitched natural slate roof without chimneys. Low, stepped parapet to central bay which advances forward slightly. Both end bays have half-round rainwater goods on plain advanced eaves.

Front elevation is painted cement render with band rustication. Stepped stucco quoins to each corner of the middle bay and each corner of the front elevation. The parapet has a plain cornice at eaves level and recessed panel with ‘TOWN HALL’ painted on it. The central bay at ground floor contains the front entrance. Modern timber door with transom over is set within a finely dressed granite doorcase with plain pilasters supporting an entablature with ashlar blocking course over. The door jambs have matching pilasters, which rise to the bottom rail of the transom, making the latter slightly wider than the door. Each remaining bay at ground floor has a single window opening, run-moulded stucco architrave and unpainted dressed granite cill. Each contains a reproduction 6/6 sliding sash window with horns and thick glazing bars. There are three similar openings – one to each bay - to first floor, in line with the openings below.

Left gable is of unpainted cement render with banded rustication (as front). Window to G/F is a modern 4x3 paned fitting in an original opening (but with concrete cill). Window to F/F is narrow and infilled (granite cill). Wall extends left as side wall of rear return. This has a 6/6 sliding sash window to G/F and to F/F, both with granite cills.

The rear elevation is completely abutted by two two-storey returns (with party wall between). Natural slate roofs, hipped on exposed gables. Walls smooth rendered. Exposed gables now abutted by a link block to rear hall.

The right gable of the main block is finished as left gable but blank. At G/F left of the return which extends at right is a reproduction six-panel timber door, to the right of which is a pair of 6/3 sliding sash windows in a common opening (with shared cill). To F/F are two 3/3 sashes; the right one is in a new opening and both have concrete cills.

Setting

The front area is enclosed by thin modern railings with ball finials, resting on a rendered and coped dwarf wall. There is a pair of gates to centre, with steps up to front entrance. At right is another gateway accessing a disabled ramp.

Historical information

A building is first shown here in the 1861 map as a Savings Bank. This appears to have been founded in the early 1840s. The 1863 Valuation book notes that the premises also included a dispensary and court house; the bank trustees received rentals of £8 and £10 respectively for these properties and themselves paid £20 per year. A late 19thC Lawrence photograph shows a chimney on each gable and louvred ventilator in the middle of the front roof ridge. Ventilator has pairs of round-headed louvres on each cheek and a swept leaded pagoda roof. The premises were purchased by Warrenpoint Town Commissioners in 1884 and a public hall (HB16/11/038) was erected behind the bank (which seems to have continued to function) to designs by W.J. Watson. Its present appearance probably dates to the earlier 20thC.

Primary sources
1. Valuation town map, 1834 (PRONI, VAL 1D/3/2).
2. OS town map, 1861 (PRONI, OS/8/27/1/5).
3. Second Valuation book, 1863 (VAL/2B/3/65B, p.23).
4. Lawrence photograph no.1191, (National Library of Ireland) .
5. Valuation Revision book (VAL 12B/22/23C, p.150).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

This building appears to have been listed originally after the chimneys were removed and the roof verges altered. There is no record of the interior at that time. It now retains little of its original interior and its replacement windows are not finely detailed. Loss of historic fabric renders this building no longer worthy of listing.