Memorial Masonic Hall

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A symmetrical three-bay two-storey red-brick Masonic Hall with neo-Georgian detailing, dated 1955 and located to the north side of Prince’s Street in Dromore town centre. Rectangular plan with single-storey flat-roof extension to rear.

Hipped natural slate roof with rounded ridge tiles and diminutive copper lantern having ball finial. Cast-iron ogee rainwater goods on timber-sheeted projecting eaves with replacement fascia boards. Walling is stretcher-bonded red-brick on a concrete plinth, with concrete eaves band, plat-band between floors and dressings. Windows are uPVC replacements throughout; those to first floor are diminished in concrete surrounds; those to ground floor are round-headed with tiled heads having central keyblock, and projecting concrete sills.

The principal elevation faces southeast and is symmetrically arranged around a central portico, with three windows to either side at first and ground floor. To centre at first floor is a concrete roundel with set square and compass carved in relief. Pedimented portico has two Tuscan columns and pilaster responds on a concrete plinth wall, flanking replacement six-panelled entrance door with fanlight and sidelights, accessed by three stone steps. To either side of portico are two stone plaques (commemoration stone dated 1955).

The southwest elevation has two windows to ground floor left.

The northwest elevation has seven evenly-spaced small square windows to first floor. Ground floor has five windows of various styles and a single-storey flat-roof extension to right.

The northeast elevation is blank.

Setting:

Situated on an elevated site to the north side of Prince’s Street on the approach to Dromore town centre. Modern housing development to northeast and rear. Lawned to front with tarmacadamed entrance to carpark at southwest; grassy verge to rear. Entrance has red-brick gate piers on a concrete plinth with square caps, supporting original steel gates. Bounded to road by mature hedgerow and to remainder by mature trees and fencing.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: Stretcher-bonded red-brick with concrete dressings
Windows: Replacement uPVC
RWG: Cast-iron

Historical information

Dromore Masonic Hall dates from 1954/6 and was built to designs by Ferguson & McIlveen of Belfast. The building first appears in valuation records in the 1956-72 fieldbook at £96, later lowered to £69 on appeal. The hall was built on a vacant site and is first shown, uncaptioned, on the OS map edition dating from the 1960s/70s with the rear extension that is present today.

Freemasonry in Dromore saw a period of growth in the early twentieth century and by the mid 1920s there were three Lodges in the town (Dromore Masonic Lodge No 70, Star of West Down No 94, Lagandale Lodge of Freemasons No 521) meeting in two separate halls, the Masonic Hall, Wesley Place and a further Masonic Hall in Upper Church Street. A decision was made to purchase a site for a new hall in order to unite the three lodges and Ferguson & McIlveen, architects were appointed, Samuel McIlveen being himself a prominent freemason. The tender was accepted of contractor John Graham Ltd of Dromore at a cost of £9,618.6s.7d and work began in August 1954. (The Leader, Dewart)

A ceremony took place on 21st May 1955 during the course of which three foundation stones were laid at the site. After assembling at Dromore Orange Hall a gathering of Freemasons and Brethren from throughout County Down processed to the site where the stones were laid by The Provincial Grand Master of Down, Sir William Robinson, DL, JP; the Provincial Grand Secretary, R S Cecil Davison JP and the Provincial Grand Treasurer Sydney Hanna MBE. The stones were laid ‘according to ancient custom’ and were declared ‘duly vertical and upright’ and ‘horizontal and straight’. The Provincial Grand Master, Sir William Robinson, scattered corn, wine and oil on the stones in token of ‘prosperity and plenty’, ‘cheerfulness and joy’ and ‘peace, love and harmony’.

As was customary, documents were placed in a sealed casket in the foundations containing the names of the officers and brethren of the three Lodges and two Royal Arch Chapters, as well as the names of the Provincial Officers of Down, the Grand Lodge calendar and a copy of local newspaper ‘The Leader’ and the current coins of the realm. (The Leader; Dewart)

The work was completed in the spring of 1956 and the hall dedicated on 7th April of that year by Sir William Robinson, assisted by the officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Down. The final cost of the building was £10,704.12s.7d. Dromore Masonic hall remains in use and is a great source of pride for the Lodges that continue to meet there today. (Dewart)

References:

Primary Sources

1. OS Map 202 – 1960s/70s
2. PRONI VAL/4/b/3/32 – Second General Revaluation 1956-72
3. The Leader 20th May 1955
4. The Leader 27th May 1955

Secondary Sources

1. Dewart, W “History of Masonry in Dromore, County Down, Northern Ireland and the building of the current Masonic Hall on the outskirts of the town” 2007 (available at www.mastermason.com)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A symmetrical three-bay two-storey red-brick Masonic Hall with neo-Georgian detailing; dated 1955 and located to the north side of Prince’s Street in Dromore town centre. Prominently sited, the building has simple detailing including a fine concrete portico. Alterations include replacement fenestration and fascias. The setting has been compromised somewhat by the construction of modern housing developments on the neighbouring site and to the rear. Although of interest as a mid-twentieth century interpretation of neo-Georgian architecture, and of social importance in the locale, extensive alterations and the loss of its original setting have compromised its architectural and historic interest.