Band Stand in the Town Park

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Octagonal cast-iron bandstand in middle of public park.

Metal-sheeted chatri roof surmounted by an ornate lantern with swept apex terminating in a highly decorative ball finial. Both the roof and lantern have decorative cast-iron crestings with similar, but smaller, ball finials to each corner. The lantern has fretted cast-iron cheeks. The verge to the main roof contains a gutter, the downpipe from which returns down one of the columns. On the main roof, on the crestings over the access steps, is a cast metal plaque reading "Warrenpoint Urban District Council/ Erected/ 1907" and depicting a sunburst and two rabbits to centre. Each segment of underside of the roof is horizontally sheeted in timber with a foliated centrepiece and a hatch into roof at NW.

The roof is supported on eight slender painted cast-iron columns with Corinthian capitals, each with the foundry's name "W. Macfarlane & Co/ Glasgow". They have a decorative applied dado and lily-of-the-valley applied ornamentation to each shaft. Decorative metal brackets link their tops and support the eaves. Ornate cast railings enclose their bottom sections. A front (SE) gate, with five concrete steps up, matches the railings and has ball-topped posts.

The bases of the columns are fixed to dressed granite blocks set into a painted and rendered base which also forms the floor of the bandstand. Two bronze plaques on the gate commemorate Newry & Mourne District Council's success in the 'Ulster in Bloom' competition in 1985 and 1993.

Floor is of painted concrete with circular metal track and similar on ceiling from which glazed timber wind break screens hang in the summer months.

Historical information

The creation of a town park was under consideration by the Warrenpoint District Council as early as 1900. Its was laid out to a design by Thomas Smith of Daisy Hill Nurseries. The bandstand, whose construction began in December 1906, is by W. Macfarlane, Glasgow and cost £222, with an additional £27 to erect the base. The park opened in 1907. Its elaborate front gates to Seaview by Bayliss, Jones and Bayliss of Wolverhampton were removed for the war effort during WW2. See also the toilets HB16/12/029 and the shelter HB16/12/030.

Primary sources
1. Plaque on bandstand.

Secondary sources
1. J.E. Crosby, ‘A tour of mid- and south Down’ (Belfast, 1992), p.57.
2. Liam Bradley, ‘Warrenpoint, origins and developments’ (Warrenpoint, 1989), pp 45, 47.
3. G.N. Smith in Irish Gardening (1915)
4. MBR Hill Street - File D-157. Historic Parks and Gardens Inventory

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest
Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance
V. Authorship
Z. Rarity

Evaluation

An attractive early 20thC bandstand retaining it original character and appearance. It is the focal point in the town park, and relates well to the other structures in the park, the pavilion HB16/12/030 and public toilets HB16/12/029.