Garage

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Façade only was retained in redevelopment of site, c.1996.

At time of survey, 2002, the dilapidated remains of a single to two storey commercial garage of c.1920s with overtly modernist (but now roofless) front section and a much more utilitarian Belfast truss roofed section to the rear. The property is located on the southeast side corner of The Square, Strangford, at the junction with Stella Maris Street.

The main front section is two storey and now consists of the front (W) and S elevations. Both are roughcast rendered with the front elevation having a typically 1920s stepped parapet, various window and door openings (with doors missing and dilapidated remains of window frames) and large raised san serif letters (partly set within the parapet) spelling out ‘J ELLIOTT & CO LTD’. The S elevation has a variety of window openings and doorways, the windows boarded up but the doorways (one of which is to the upper level) retaining timber-sheeted doors. The roof has collapsed but the broken remains of its Belfast trusses can be seen within.

The rear section appears to have only one exposed elevation, its S facing one to Stella Maris Street. This elevation is dominated by a large vehicle doorway with sliding timber double door with the remainder of the elevation in corrugated metal. This section retains its curved felt-covered roof.

The current OS map shows that the rear portion of the building has an irregular rhomboid plan form and is significantly broader than that to the front (which, incidently, is rectangular but with a small outshot to the rear). The dimensions of the exposed S and W elevations of the whole property are roughly 24m x 11.

Historical information

This garage appears to have been built in the 1920s. Façade only was retained in redevelopment of site, c.1996.

The Belfast truss was developed in the mid-nineteenth century to meet the demand for efficient, lightweight and long span roofs brought about by the industrial revolution. A detailed description of the historical development of the Belfast truss is included in the record for HB18/08/139. In brief, the first known reference to a curved wooden felted roof structure supported by bowstring girders is in an advertisement in the Dublin Builder for 1866 by the Belfast firm of felt-makers, McTear & Co. McTear’s continued making trusses until they went out of business in 1908.

A second Belfast felt supplier, Anderson & Co., began to produce trusses, to a slightly different design, in 1886. In 1896, Anderson’s launched their Mk II version; promoted as maximising long spans whilst maintaining light weight. This model was subsequently used by other companies, and is referred to by historians as the Belfast truss, although this term is widely used to apply to all timber bowstring trusses where the internal bracing members meet not on the bottom of the truss as was the convention but on the top curved member.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Badly dilapidated remains of a two and single storey garage of c.1920s with overtly modernist (but now roofless) front section and a much more utilitarian Belfast Truss roofed section to the rear.

General comments

Surveyed as part of the Belfast Roof Truss survey.