Band stand

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Site, on the Central Promenade along the shore front at Newcastle, of a former band stand of c.1905. The cast iron structure of the bandstand has been removed and all that remains is the octagonal brick and concrete base. A modern stylised metal framework now rests on this base. What remains of the original structure was been reassembled at the National Trust headquarters, Rowallane House, Saintfield.

Historical information

The band stand formerly on this site is believed to have been erected in 1905, by the newly created Newcastle Urban District Council. It may have replaced an earlier, possibly only semi-permanent structure whose site is indicated on the OS map of 1903. After falling into disrepair, the structure was removed in c.1987, restored by the National Trust and reconstructed in the grounds of Rowallane House, Saintfield. Only the uprights of the present reconstructed bandstand are original, with the roof and much of the filigree work replaced by the Trust.

References- Primary sources
1 Ulster Museum Welch Collection [This collection incudes a photograph of c.1910 showing the band stand.]
2 PRONI OS/8/136/1-4 OS plans of Newcastle, 1901.

Secondary sources
1 Grenfell Morton ‘Victorian and Edwardian Newcastle’ (Belfast 1988), pp.41, 43-44, 89. [This book contains a large selection of early photographs of Newcastle, mainly from the Lawrence Collection at PRONI).]
2 Information supplied by Mr Mike Snowden, Estate Manager at Rowallane Gardens, Saintfield.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Site of a former bandstand of c.1905. The cast iron structure of the bandstand has been removed and all that remains is the octagonal base, upon which a modern stylised metal framework now rests. What remained of the original structure was reassembled at the National Trust headquarters, Rowallane House, Saintfield, with the roof and and much of the filigree work are replacements copied from the original design.