Masonic Hall

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A free-standing symmetrical two-storey, three-bay red-brick Masonic Hall, built c.1880 and located east of Lisburn Street in Hillsborough town centre. Square on plan with projecting porch to front and single-storey flat-roof return to rear (c.1960).

Pitched natural slate roof with decorative bargeboard and finial to gable. Cast-iron ogee rainwater goods on projecting eaves. Walling is Flemish-bonded red-brick on plinth with black and yellow brick dressings; yellow dog-tooth and mouse-tooth string course with black brick course under eaves; black brick string course at sill and lintel level. Windows are uPVC with projecting masonry sills and decorative black brick lintels; decorative black brick course under sills.

The principal elevation faces west comprising central gabled breakfront (higher one window wide) with paired windows to either side; projecting gabled porch to ground floor with decorative bargeboards and finial detailed as above; containing double-leaf raised-and-fielded four-panel door with transom light, accessed by two stone steps; decorative brick lintel (as at windows). Decorative bargeboard and finial to gable with sandstone moulded segmental-headed plaque, containing three symbols of the Masonic order.

The north elevation has two uPVC windows at ground floor.

The east (rear) elevation has a window at first floor left and a fire-escape door with fanlight (originally a window) at first floor right. Abutted at ground floor left of centre by the flat-roof return (of little interest); at right is a modern timber door.

The south elevation has two square-headed timber-framed windows at ground floor.

Setting:

Set back from the early nineteenth-terrace with gravelled garden to front enclosed by sandstone parapet wall with original cast-iron railings; to centre are original gate-piers with gothic moulded shafts on a square base, supporting original cast-iron latch gate. Rubble-stone wall to rear enclosing a small yard; a new red-brick apartment block to rear has been constructed close to the boundary wall.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: Flemish-bonded red-brick
Windows: uPVC
RWG: Cast-iron

Historical information

Hillsborough Masonic Hall was erected in 1882 first appearing on the Annual Revisions Town Plan of Hillsborough (dated c. 1864-1909) where it was depicted as a square shaped building situated midway along the Lisburn Road. The Annual Revisions record that this Masonic Hall replaced two small dwellings which were taken down in 1880 to make way for the hall (and also nos. 31 and 35 Lisburn Street which were constructed during the same period). When the hall was first constructed it was valued at £22 and measured 20 by 30ft; the valuation records note that the Masonic Society occupied the hall and from 1925 the Rev. [F] Matchett was listed as a joint occupant.

The Hall has been used by Lodge No. 683 since its construction in 1882. This Lodge, the ‘Annahilt True Blues.’ The 1901 Ulster Towns Directory states that Lodge No. 683 was one of a small number of Masonic Lodges which operated in Hillsborough (the others being Lodge No. 66, the ‘Star of Kilwarlin’ and Royal Arch Chapter No. 66), although it is not known whether they also operated from the Masonic Hall on Lisburn Street. In 1901 the secretary of the Annahilt True Blues was William George Magennis a solicitor who operated a business in Lisburn and lived in Ballynahinch Street; by 1910 the post of secretary had passed to a Mr. Daniel Fergie who also occupied a house on Lisburn Street. The 1901 Census indicates that the Masonic Hall was also used as a private dwelling by a Mr. Robert Magill (70), a general worker who occupied the hall with his wife Isabella and their son (also named Robert) and his wife Annie. The Census Building return describes the building as a 2nd class ‘Masonic Hall’ which possessed only two rooms. By 1911 the census of that year noted that the Hall possessed six rooms and had passed into the care of a Mr. Moses Rogan (51), a Railway Labourer who occupied the Hall with his three children.

Extracts from the Minute books of Lodge No. 683 tell us that the Annahilt True Blues Masonic Lodge was first formed in 1788 and met in a house in the Townland of Ballykeel-Edenagonnell; following an attack on the house during the 1798 rebellion the Lodge met in a number of different locations, including No. 8 The Square (HB19/05/038A), until finally moving to Hillsborough Masonic Hall in 1882. For 120 years the Lodge has continued to meet at this location and possessed a membership high of 110 during the 1970’s (Minute Books, Lodge No. 683). A single storey return was added to the rear of the hall c. 1960.

Primary Sources

1. PRONI D671/M/8/25 – Hillsborough Map c.1800
2. PRONI D671/M/8/57/1 – Hillsborough Illustrated Map 1803
3. PRONI VAL/1/B/344 A-B – Townland Valuations 1834
4. PRONI VAL/1/D/3/5 – Town Plan 1834
5. PRONI OS/6/3/14/1 – First Edition OS Map 1834
6. PRONI OS/6/3/14/2 – Second Edition OS Map 1858
7. PRONI OS/6/3/14/3 – Third Edition OS Map 1902-1903
8. PRONI OS/6/3/14/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1919-1920
9. PRONI VAL/2/B/3/45A-C – Griffith’s Valuation 1861
10. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/14A – Annual Revisions 1864-1879
11. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/14B – Annual Revisions 1880-1889
12. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/14C – Annual Revisions 1890-1908
13. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/14D – Annual Revisions 1909-1928
14. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/14E – Annual Revisions 1928-1930
15. Census of Ireland 1901 / 1911
16. Ulster Towns Directory (1880, 1901, 1910)

Online Resources

1. Anahilt True Blues Minute Book - http://www.masoniclodge683.org/

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
S. Authenticity
T. Historic Importance
X. Local Interest
Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance

Evaluation

A free-standing symmetrical two-storey, three-bay red-brick Masonic Hall, built c.1880 and located east of Lisburn Street in Hillsborough town centre. Designed a loosely Ruskinian Polychrome Gothic style it displays good symetrical proportions. The front façade is enlivened by decorative brickwork and detailing. Set back from the early nineteenth-century terrace with original railings, the Hall is one of the more significant buildings in Lisburn street. A good example of a late-nineteenth century Masonic Hall of social interest to the local community.

General comments

Listing Criteria R - Age; S - Authenticity and T - Historic Importance also apply.