Doagh Masonic Hall

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached three-bay two-storey Masonic lodge, dated 1898, facing west and located to the east side of Church Lane, Doagh. The rectangular hall is aligned east-west with raised balustraded parapet to west elevation.

The roof is gabled to east and hipped to west, natural slated with black clay ridge tiles; rainwater goods are uPVC. Walls are cement rendered with ruled and lined finish and rendered plinth. All mouldings appear to be precast and rendered. Windows are square-headed to ground floor and round-headed to first floor, all timber top-hung casements.

The principal elevation is three openings wide arranged about a central door; all ground floor openings have sweeping heads, those to first floor have keystone and moulded round-headed architraves. All windows have cast moulded aprons. Date stone to apex, ‘AD 1898’. A dentilated entablature supports a raised balustraded parapet with four pedestals, all connected by moulded cornice and surmounted by precast ball finials. The principal entrance comprises Greek Ionic pilasters, surmounted by a round-headed moulded frieze with central shield and swag moulding, surmounted by cornice. Replacement 9-panel door with central brass knob, boarded fanlight, all accessed by raised flagged step.

The north elevation is enclosed by fence to right, and has two partially blocked replacement windows to the ground floor. The parapet continues onto north elevation at right.

The east gable ground floor could not be inspected. First floor has modern fire escape to left and two oculus windows to centre and right, the central being slightly higher.

The south elevation is also enclosed by fence. Ground floor windows are as north elevation; one square headed window to first floor. There is one single cast iron rainwater hopper to the left of ground floor windows. The parapet continues onto south elevation at left.

Setting

The site is bound to north and east by rendered boundary wall and to south side by hedge. The hall is enclosed to the road by balustraded wall with saddle-back coping, in similar style to that of the parapet. Accessed at centre by cast metal gate on square pillars with pointed caps.

Roof: Natural Slate
Walling: Cement render with ruled and lined finish and rendered plinth.
Windows: timber top-hung casements.
Rainwater Goods: uPVC

Historical information

Information from the First Survey and from the Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720-1940 notes that the building was renovated in 1909 by Thomas J. Houston (Irish Builder, 26th June 1909, p 406) but still bears the date 1898 on its façade.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/1/45/3 –Third Edition OS Map (1901-2)

Secondary Sources

1. Irish Builder, 26th June, 1909

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Detached three-bay two-storey Masonic lodge, built c.1898, facing west and located to the east side of Church Lane; the Masonic lodge with its ambitious facade remains an impressive structure with original features still intact, including its many decorative precast mouldings and raised balustraded parapet. However, it is of a late date and not one of the best examples of the type.