Masonic Hall

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached, symmetrical, two-storey free classical style gabled hall, built c.1920, facing north and located to the south of Antrim Road. Rectangular on plan, roof is pitched with overhanging eaves and exposed roof rafters. Masonry walling with ruled and lined stucco finish, windows are timber 2/2 sliding sash unless otherwise stated.

North gable has fascia with exposed rafters and banded rustication below string course. Central entrance door with two oculus windows either side with leaded star motif, keystone and label moulded round hoodmould. There are three segmental headed windows to first floor, left and right have shaped apron to cill. Central Masonic cartouche to apex. Corner pilasters extend to roof and plinth. Principal entrance door is single leaf, hardwood, eight panel, (two lower panels larger) with bronze door furniture, and semi-circular fanlight above with etched Masonic cipher (compass and square). The door is surmounted by a segmental broken pediment supported on pilasters flanking polished granite colonnettes supporting archivolt and keystone all accessed by three steps, the bottom of which is not original.

East elevation is ashlar stucco finish with pilaster and rustication below string course on north side. Ground floor has single window with flush keystone and chamfered edges. Left side has replacement hardwood door below remains of original window creating a large square fanlight. Chamfers remain as original window surround.

South elevation has single window to left at first floor and replacement door to right as replacement of the original window. Door accessed by metal stair on concrete plinth. Small flat roof extension to south east corner.

West elevation has four bays. The north bay is rusticated below string course, with single window above. Window to each bay at ground floor, the north bay with smaller 1/1 sliding sash window.

Setting

The building is situated towards the rear (south) of an elevated site overlooking the Antrim Road and is accessed through original pillars with pillar caps and S plan rendered walls, abutted by random rubble wall enclosing the front boundary.

Roof covering Not visible from ground level
Walling Ashlar with stucco finish, rusticated north elevation
Windows Timber sliding sash 2/2
Rainwater goods Cast iron half-round gutter and round downpipes

Historical information

The Grand Lodge of Ireland was established before 1725 in Dublin, but the earliest in Northern Ireland, the earliest Provincial Grand Lodge was formed in 1834, founded by Rev. Brother Walter Bishop Mant (Archdeacon of Connor), in Cary & Dunluce (North Antrim). The Grand Master of the lodge in Belfast, Antrim and Massereene was the Marquess of Donegall. In 1824, lodge no.529 exchanged their number for no. 160 and the number was transferred to Templepatrick in 1826, becoming Antrim Lodge No. 28.

References

Secondary:
1. 'Freemasonry in Northern Ireland 1748-1915', Samuel Leighton, 1938.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Detached, symmetrical, two-storey free classical style gabled Masonic hall, built c.1920, located to the south of Antrim Road. Modern additions have encroached the east and south elevations but this does not detract from the overall impression of the original scale and aspect, sitting on an elevated site the hall retains almost all its original design features including, segmental broken pediment supported on pilasters, flanking polished granite colonnettes, supporting archivolt and keystone. However, it is of a late date and not a special example of the type.

Detached, symmetrical, two-storey free classical style gabled Masonic hall, built c.1905, located to the south of Antrim Road. Modern additions have encroached the east and south elevations but this does not detract from the overall impression of the original scale and aspect, sitting on an elevated site the hall retains almost all its original design features including, segmental broken pediment supported on pilasters, flanking polished granite colonnettes, supporting archivolt and keystone. The hall is also a building of social significance within the local community.