Former Police Station

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Description at 07.02.2014
Building has been demolished and the site cleared.

Description at 18.11.2010
A detached two-storey multi-bay rendered former police station, built c.1925 to standard design by T.F.O Rippingham and located east of Rathfriland Road in the centre of Dromara. Rectangular on plan with two single-storey flat roof returns to rear.

Hipped natural slate roof having rounded black ridge tiles and rendered chimneystacks. Plastic rainwater goods to overhanging eaves with cast-iron downpipes and hoppers. Walling is painted render with continuous moulded sill course to a diminished first floor and chamfered plinth course. Windows are replacement uPVC throughout with moulded masonry sills to ground floor.

The principal elevation faces west and is asymmetrically arranged, being seven windows wide to first floor. Shallow breakfront to left comprising three shallow recessed arches containing entrance flanked by two window openings. The three arches are connected by a blocking course at impost level; double-leaf raised-and-fielded three and six panelled timber door in moulded surround with oversized keyblock detail. Emblem and banner to tympanum (partially removed). To right are three window openings.

The north elevation has two windows to ground and first floor; ground floor with diminutive cell window to centre.

The east (rear) elevation has asymmetrical fenestration with five windows to first floor; stairwell window to right of centre breaks continuous sill course. Ground floor is abutted to left and right by single-storey flat-roof returns; to centre are two windows and to right a modern panelled timber door with transom light.

The south elevation has a single window to first floor right; to right at ground floor is a raised-and-fielded six panelled timber door in moulded surround with projecting blank panel, accessed by two masonry steps having metal boot scraper to lower step.

Outbuilding to rear contains WCs.

Setting:

Bounded to road by painted masonry wall surmounted by corrugated steel and wire fence. Vehicular and pedestrian access to left and right respectively, having gate piers and steel gates. Flagged paving to front with steps leading to entrance; gravelled and paving to rear yard. Rear yard is enclosed by high painted masonry wall. Vehicular access is tarmacadamed and leads to a large car park to rear containing block of three garages. The entire site of approximately half an acre is enclosed by corrugated steel and wire fence.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: Render
Windows: uPVC replacements
RWG: Plastic & cast-iron

Historical information

This two-storey former Police Station was constructed c. 1925 on Rathfriland Street in the centre of Dromara. It was designed by T. F. O. Rippingham (c. 1896-1964), an English born architect who first came to Belfast in 1922 to assist the newly created Government of Northern Ireland Works Division and was commissioned by the Ministry of Finance to construct a series of Police Stations of this design for the Royal Ulster Constabulary in the 1920s. Further examples of this type exist in Seaforde Co. Down and Belleek Co. Fermanagh (Dictionary of Irish Architects; Brett, p. 271).

Dromara Police Station operated as a station for the R. U. C. until 2001 when the current national police force, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (P.S.N.I.) was created. However, under a government ‘estate strategy’ implemented in 2005 (which aimed to streamline the operation costs of the police service) the station was closed in January 2009. Dromara P.S.N.I. Station is one of 22 stations that have been closed down since the implementation of this scheme in 2005 (Ulster Star, 30/01/2009). The former police station is currently for sale.

Field research carried out at the site has found that the original floor plan of the police station has survived as have a number of the interior features including a detainment cell, panelled timber doors and a number of original light switches. The corrugated iron fence, which was constructed c. 1969, still encircles the former police station at the time of the survey.

This former police station is remarkable as one of a small number of the surviving and relatively unaltered police barracks designed by T. F. O. Rippingham during the 1920s when security in the recently partitioned six-counties was a chief concern for the newly formed Northern Ireland Government.

The building was demolished sometime after November 2010.

References

Primary Sources
1. PRONI OS/6/3/28/4 – Fourth edition Ordnance Survey map 1920
2. Ulster Star – 30 January 2009

Secondary Sources
1. Brett, C. E. B., ‘Buildings of County Antrim’ Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1996.

Online Resources
1. Dictionary of Irish Architects Website - http://www.dia.ie/

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Prior to its demolition sometime after November 2010, this building was a detached two-storey multi-bay rendered former police station, built c.1925 and located east of Rathfriland Road in the centre of Dromara. A typical T.F.O Rippingham example of an RUC station built from the 1920s in the new state of Northern Ireland. Architectural detailing aspires to the neo-Georgian style favoured for many public buildings in the new state; with recessed arches, understated mouldings and a diminished first floor. The windows have been replaced with uPVC but the original floor-plan is intact.