East Gate of Old White Linen Hall

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Pedimented archway in a neo-classical style now sited beside a playground in housing estate off Canal Quay.

Consists of two ashlar granite piers supporting a semicircular arch with pediment above. Gateway is ornamental and now devoid of gates.

Each pier is rectangular in section over a projecting moulded base. Inside faces each have a rebated reveal for the gates, only the hinges of which now survive. The piers rise up ten ashlar courses from base to spring of entrance arch. At this level is a fluted frieze to each face of pier (but with plain face to reveal). Over frieze is a narrow moulded cornice, above which are square recessed panels to the three outer faces. Those to front and rear have moulded edges; that to left depicts a flax spinning wheel and that to right has a harp and crown. These motifs are repeated in the same order on the rear face of the gate. The panels to each outside face are blank.

Coping each pier over the panels is a Greek-key frieze with deep overhanging cornice. A pediment with Greek-key frieze and heavy projecting cornice rises from the top of each pier. Topped at ridge and each end by plain square acroteria. Directly underneath the pediment is a semicircular arch with radiating ashlar voussoirs and raised keystone.

Left pier has a modern metal plaque attached. It reads: ‘Linenhall arch. Built in 1783: former entrance to White Linenhall; Military Barracks; Linenhall Square’. The outer faces are patched with masonry where the former boundary walls have been removed.

No traces of any buildings formerly associated with this gate.

Historical information

Formed eastern entrance to White Linen Hall, a six-acre complex erected about 1783 to design of Samuel Proule, a Dublin architect. Built to enable Ulster’s line merchants to export white linen directly from the north of Ireland without having to go through Dublin. The opening of a white linen hall in Belfast (where the City Hall now stands) made the Newry hall redundant. Sometime before 1819, the complex was sold off to the Army for use as barracks, with accommodation for over 1100 men.

Late 19th century Lawrence photograph shows deep gate jambs to project in from piers, with a pair of sheeted timber doors and a timber lintel between at arch spring level.

Barracks closed in mid 1920s and site was purchased by Newry Urban District Council for housing development.

Sources:

1. E.R.R. Green (1963), ‘Industrial archaeology of Co. Down’, p.34 – entry 81 (Belfast: HMSO).
2. F.H. Bell (1989), ‘Newry, Warrenpoint and Rostrevor’, pp.14-15 (Belfast: Friar’s Bush).
3. ‘Cuisle Na Ngael’, 1990, no.6: p.79.
4. Archaeological Survey Co Down, p.430 (entry 417.44).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation

Criteria for listing: historic interest

V. Authorship
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

An imposing Classical gateway, well proportioned and ornamented. The earliest, and perhaps the only, white linen hall gateway to survive in Ulster. Although compromised by its surroundings, it still retains much of its integrity.