Arts Centre

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A two storey building with a classical façade fronting Bank Parade. The entire building has recently been rebuilt following terrorist action, but the original portico and some other features have been retained in the replica façade.

The walls of the façade are cement rendered over a granite base course. The render has banded rustication to ground floor and is lined to mimic ashlar at first floor. Between the ground and first floor is a finely-dressed granite platband. The façade is five openings wide with centre three bays slightly projecting.

Four granite steps lead up to the main entrance at centre. This comprises a pair of six panelled timber stained doors with narrow transom light above. The door opening has an ashlar granite surround flanked by a shallow rendered and painted pilaster on each side. To front is a portico comprising a flat-roofed ashlar granite entablature supported on a Doric column at either end, the feet of which rest on ashlar granite plinths. At left, parallel to façade, is a disabled access ramp, in granite with a metal handrail. On both sides of door are two windows, all 6/6 timber sliding sashes, with granite cills and now with fixed metal security grilles over.

Four Ionic pilasters rise up the projecting section of the façade at first floor level. These break a platband running across the façade just below first floor window cill level; the stones which comprise this platband are probably reused originals. There are five window openings at first floor, in line with ground floor openings. They have moulded architraves with horizontal drip moulds above, and each contains a 9/6 sliding sash window (no horns). Some of the earlier window frames and panes seem to have been reused.

The pilasters terminate below a plain entablature above which is a dentillated cornice across the entire façade. Above this is a moulded parapet, pedimented above the projecting section.

Right elevation has cement rendered walls with modern window and door openings. At rear is a four storey flat-roofed extension, with a similar three-storey extension to right, all rendered and with modern windows. Left elevation now abutted by a modern extension which forms the main entrance and reception area to Arts Centre. The flat roof is of reinforced concrete.

Historical information

The HBBB survey card dated 12 Nov 1969 states that this building was originally an Assembly Room. However, the 1836 Ordnance Survey Memoir states that the Assembly Room was erected in 1794 as a “plain granite building” in Hill St. The 1838 Valuation Book notes it as a “Savings Bank in progress of building”. This was almost certainly its original function (the only other bank in the town at this time was the Bank of Ireland on Trevor Hill), and its erection appears to have been completed in 1840. The 1863 Valuation book indicates that it was a Trustees Savings Bank. It continued in this use until around 1889, when the Valuation Revision book notes it as vacant, adding “to be town hall”. It was in the ownership of the Newry Town Commissioners by 1890, and appears to have been the Town Hall until the opening of the present town hall on Armaghdown Bridge in 1894. The 1897 Valuation Revision notes its continued use as Assembly Rooms and also as a Free Public Library.

These rooms continued to be used by Newry UDC (which succeeded the Commissioners in 1898) until 1902, when the old Town Hall became the Municipal Technical School and Free Library. The Valuation Revision book also indicates that the name of the street which fronts the building was changed from ‘Salt Yard’ to ‘Bank Parade’ around 1906. The premises were acquired in 1980 by Newry & Mourne District Council and refurbished as Newry & Mourne District Arts Centre. This entailed the demolition of the entire building and the incorporation of the original portico, platband and possibly some windows in the rebuild.

Primary Sources:
1.Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI - VAL 1B/246A, p.62;
2.Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI - VAL 1D/3/8E (1838 valuation map);
3.Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI - VAL 2B/2/39B, p.18;
4.Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI - VAL 12B/15/1A, p.156e; /1E, p.246; /1G, p.249;
5.Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI - VAL 12B/22/18A, p.301; /B, p.11.

Secondary Sources:
1.G. Fay (ed), 1994, ‘Proud People: a Newry anthology’, p.66 (Newry: Centenary Committee).
2.Newry Town Trail (Newry Regeneration Trust).
3.Information from Gerald Fay, Newry architect.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A two storey building with a classical façade. Parts of the façade are now the only features of historic interest and show what the original building looked like. However, with the exception of the portico, it is largely rebuilt.