Tollymore Mountain Centre

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Single and two storey timber built outdoor pursuits centre with log cabin chalet appearance, built in 1970 to designs by the James Munce Partnership, but somewhat altered in subsequent years. The building is situated on the edge of Tollymore Forest Park, just to the S of the Hilltown Road, 3 miles W of Newcastle and one mile W of Bryansford.

The building is roughly L shaped and consists of a large, two storey gabled section to the W and a longer, single storey gabled wing to the E. These are linked by a small flat roofed central portion which, to the front (N), is obscured by a large gabled entrance porch, which may be a later addition. The openings are of various shapes and not all are original. Most of them are filled with timber window frames and doorways. The roof is covered in asbestos ‘slates’, with Velux windows to the single storey section.

The two storied section is jettied, but changes to the façade have made this appear less pronounced than it was. The façade itself is mainly in timber. Certain sections have retained their original log facing, but other portions, (notably the gables of the two storey section) have been re-faced in neatly planed timber, thus diminishing the ‘log cabin’ appearance of the building.

To the SE side of the building a new steel framed structure is currently being added to the site.

Historical information

The Northern Ireland Mountain Centre (now more commonly known as the ‘Tollymore Mountain Centre’) was built in 1970 to designs by James Munce. Trees from the surrounding forest were used in the construction. The building has been slightly altered over the years with new openings added and portions of the façade refaced.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Single and two storey timber built outdoor pursuits centre with log cabin chalet appearance, built in 1970 to designs by the James Munce, but somewhat altered in subsequent years with portions of the ‘rough’ log façade refaced in neatly plained timber.