Newcastle Technical College (original building),

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two storey, L plan, gabled technical college of 1929-30, with a plain modern pebbledashed appearance and many large window openings, set on the W side of Donard Street.

The entrance is to the long E façade of the main section of the building. It is set within a concrete-faced full height bay the tympanum of which breaks through the roof line. The entrance doorway itself is set in a recess on the ground floor of the bay and has timber panelled double door with a large fanlight. To the first floor of the bay is a large window (whose frame is a recent replacement- as are all the others). To the left of the bay on the ground floor are two windows with three more to the right of the bay.

The S elevation consists of the S façade of the rear return (to the left) and the S gable of the main section of the building. Altogether there are seven windows to the ground and to the first floor, all large as before but with some slightly larger than others. There are two modern signs to the far right.

The N gable of the main section has a central bay similar to front. To the first floor are three large windows (one within the bay), but to the ground floor a single storey link to a large single storey flat roofed extension has been added in recent years. The W gable of the return section has a ground floor window and door. To the left side of this gable a large single storey flat roofed extension has been added, an extension which continues around the ground floor of the rear of the building.

The rear façade has a flat roofed stairwell projection at the intersection of the main section and the return. This stairwell projection has large windows to N and W at its upper level. The exposed portion first floor of the W façade of the main section has two large windows.

The façade is pebbledashed with smooth render surrounds to wall edges and openings. The single storey rear extension is finished in plain render, as is the extension and link to the N.

The roof (excluding the flat roofed extensions) is gabled and covered in natural slate. The roof has a slight overhang with plain barges. Tall rendered chimney stack to rear of roof on main section. The RW goods are cast iron and have distinctive hoppers with cornices and swags. Low rendered wall with simple railings to E and S.

A new section of the technical college (built c.early 1960s) has been sited to the N of this on the other side of Park Lane; it is three storey and in brick and concrete.

Historical information

This technical college was built in 1929-30 to designs by Castor J. Love, the architect to the Co. Down Education Committee. The building work was carried out by E. Frazer and Co. and the college was opened in August 1930 by Lord Londonderry.

A separate extension to the college was built in c.1960s, slightly to the north of the original.

References- Primary sources
1 Linen Hall Library ‘Belfast News-Letter’ 2. Feb. 1929.
2 Linen Hall Library ‘Belfast Telegraph’ 5 August 1930.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Modern style two storey technical college of 1929-30 by Castor J. Love, with pebbledashed façade and many large window openings. Large single storey extensions have been added to the rear and north side in recent years.