Pavillion

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Large single storey early 20thC timber pavilion, in an Arts and Crafts bungalow style on SW side of Prince’s Street.

Pitched painted corrugated metal roof aligned NW-SE with a large front gable. Plain bargeboards with moulded timber trim. Serrated terracotta ridges with terracotta finials. Bead moulded timber eaves carry half-round metal rainwater goods. Front (NE facing) gable is decorative and has applied mock-Tudor beams and braces. It has a slightly advanced oriel window resting on four moulded timber corbels; a thin leaded roof, moulded eaves and similar mock-Tudor beams. The oriel has three small 1/1 casement windows, the central one having an additional semicircular light, all under a timber eyebrow hood.

Front (NE) wall of pavilion is symmetrical elevation is seven openings wide. It is finished with horizontal beaded t+g sheeting and is protected by a front veranda (see later). The second and sixth openings are both doorways and the rest are windows. The doorways contain pairs of narrow timber doors; each with two small bottom bolection moulded panels and large 1/1 glazed top panes. Narrow three paned transom light over each doorway. Central opening contains three side-hung 1/1 casements, each with a single fixed transom over. The remaining windows are all pairs of 1/1 side-hung casements with fixed transoms.

The façade has been extended a single bay to left and right under lean-to roofs. Left bay is sheeted as façade and has a four panelled door, three open timber steps up, (serving the internal stage), and a 1/1 side hung casement window. The right bay extension advances out to fill the veranda and has vertical t+g sheeted wall to left cheek which has a four panelled door to left side. The front wall has a four-paned fixed light with three transom lights over, all lower horizontal weatherboarding, set within the veranda frame (see later).

Veranda is seven bays wide with additional bays to left and right ends, making nine in total. It has a mono-pitched corrugated metal roof that abuts the front elevation just below eaves level and is hipped over each of the additional end bays (thus wrapping around each corner as a lean-to roof). It has eaves and rainwater goods as main pavilion. The two bays in line with two doorways on the front elevation each have a small decorative t+g sheeted gablet. Veranda bays are all identical, each is separated by a square in section post, with same at either end. All bays (but for those with gables) have a balustrade of robust turned timber balusters which have a plain timber handrail and rest on a timber beam which spans the posts (and does not touch the ground). The balustrade to the right bay extension is replaced by weatherboarding. Rising from a rounded timber bead on each post are two scrolling timber brackets and supporting an eaves level frieze (six open square panels). Where the brackets meet the frieze there are drop ball-finials. Veranda has a smooth concrete floor and has four (unfixed) timber benches with cast iron ends moulded to duplicate a rustic timber frame.

The left (SE) gable of the pavilion is abutted at ground floor by a single storey extension. Its exposed gable is sheeted in tin and has a central two light casement above. The extension has a felt flat roof which is a continuation of the front veranda roof. Its front (NE) end is the left bay of the façade. Its rear (SW) end is t+g sheeted and has a small window and its main (SE) wall is rendered brickwork with two large steel casement windows.

The rear (SW) elevation of the pavilion is abutted to centre and right by a lower single storey annex (see later). Its exposed left bay is finished with horizontal weatherboarding to gable level. Pair of casements (each 1/1) to right of centre and two-paned fixed transom light above.

The right (NW) gable of the pavilion is abutted at ground floor by a single storey extension. Its exposed gable is sheeted in tin and has a pair of 2x3 paned side hung casement windows. The extension has a corrugated roof which is a continuation of the front veranda roof. Its front (NE) end is the right bay of the façade. Its rear (SW) end is abutted by a link to classrooms (of no interest) and its main wall is timber framed and multi-glazed (as its NE bay).

Rear annex has a pitched corrugated metal roof and each of its end gables has decorative mock-Tudor beams applied. Its NE elevation abuts the pavilion. Its SE gable has a pair of 1/1 side-hung casements each with a single transom over. Its rear (SW) elevation fronts a rear communal alley and has three similar windows. Its NW gable was not inspected and fronts a small yard to left side of the rear elevation of the pavilion.

Setting.

Boundary to Prince’s Street has a rendered dwarf wall with rounded coping carrying plain railings with alternating hoop tops and foliated finials. The front gates consist of a pair of vehicle gates with a single similar gate to immediate left for pedestrians. All have plain dog bars with crossed braces and interlocking pointed hoop top. Moulded cast iron posts have bulbous foliated caps and are marked, ‘HILL + SMITH BRIERLEY HILL’.

The remaining site is filled with inter-war and modern ‘portacabin’ schoolrooms of no interest. To immediate front of the pavilion is a small paved area with central statue of Mary on a modern plinth and privet hedges, former lawns to left and right each have a prefabricated classroom.

Historical information

First cited in the 1900 Valuation revision book as a refreshment room and offices, all belonging to the Great Northern Railway Company. This company had purchased the adjoining Highland Hotel the previous year (HB16/12/005). Cited as the ‘pavilion engine house’ from 1912 (by this time the company had acquired a hotel in the adjoining plot of ground, at the corner of Princes St and the Promenade, HB16/12/005A). It is cited as a pavilion on the 1919 25” map. The premises were acquired by the Sisters of Mercy around 1924 and eventually became the convent primary school. It will close in June 2000 and will move to new premises on the site of St. Peter’s Primary School (HB16/12/034).

Primary sources.

1. Valuation revision books (PRONI: VAL 12B/22/23E, p.193; /23F, p.135; VAL 12B/22/24A, p.51).
2. OS 25” map, 1919 (PRONI: OS 10/3/54/2/1).

Secondary sources
1. Liam Bradley, ‘Warrenpoint, origins and developments’ 1998, pp 45, 47.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
F. Structural System
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

This exceptional timber structure is a very fine example of its type and is well detailed in the Arts and Crafts style. Its location, opposite the Town Park and to rear of St Joseph’s Home, gives it an impressive setting and group value. Similar, but less impressive timber structures in Newry and Mourne include, The Hut, Glasdrumman (HB16/01/027), the tennis pavilion, Manse Road, Kilkeel (HB16/03/033), and Friends Meeting House, Newry Street Rathfriland, (HB16/08/037).

General comments

**Under consideration : awaiting further information** 29/03/2004