Dufferin Memorial Hall

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A large two-storey Edwardian hall dated c.1905, built to the designs of Young & McKenzie. Located in the centre of Bangor town adjacent to the Masonic Hall (HB23/07/008), opposite the Hamilton Road Methodist Church (HB23/05/003) and east of St. Comgall's Parish Church of Ireland (HB23/07/007A).

Primarily natural slate roof with terracotta ridge tiles; partially roofed in copper; partial leaded hips. uPVC replacement guttering with cast-iron circular down pipes. Red brick walling laid to English Garden Wall bond; ashlar sandstone dressings; projected sandstone plinth course. Lattice leaded windows embedded into sandstone surrounds with double glazed uPVC wood effect windows to side and rear elevations. Timber sheeted doors with strap hinges; fixed over light; embedded into moulded Tudor-arched opening.

The principal elevation faces north, is three bays wide and is symmetrically arranged with gabled central bay. Facade is dominated by a central arrangement of moulded Tudor arched entrance with hood mould and foliate stops with freestyle Perpendicular-traceried Tudor-arched leaded lattice window over, all framed by octagonal sandstone piers and enclosing central carved ashlar sandstone panel in Perpendicular cusped Gothic style, detailed with cartouche at centre carved with the Dufferin monogram and motto. Each of the main openings has hood moulding, that to first floor rising to an ornate carved sandstone finial. Entrance is flanked by single cusped openings in flush sandstone surrounds (polished granite datestone beneath right window: ‘THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THIS / BUILDING WAS LAID BY / HARIOT / MARCHIONESS OF DUFFERIN AND AVA / 2ND FEBRUARY 1905’); first floor is flanked by paired round-arched windows each beneath an ornate hood mould with carved finial and foliate stops. The sandstone tympanum is ornately carved in deep relief with the Dufferin crest above a frieze of raised letters: ‘Dufferin Memorial Hall’; moulded kneelers and half-engaged drop finals to either side. Flanking bays have stepped parapets (lowest to centre) each topped by a copper dome and lit by a single lattice glazed window set in a lancet-shaped recess breaking a central string course.

The left (east) elevation is uniformly arranged six bays deep with shallow projecting piers between bays; squared headed ground floor openings; Tudor arched first floor openings; steel framed windows, mostly replaced with uPVC. Far right bay is projected and matching in style to front elevation side bay with additional Tudor-arched door opening to ground floor with vertically sheeted timber door and Tudor tympanum; brick surrounds with brick hood moulding and foliate stops. Altered first floor window second from left, to provide emergency access via modern galvanised external stair. Far left bay abutted by two-storey projection accommodation secondary access and circulation; hipped roof with various window and door openings.

The rear (south) gable is symmetrically arranged; smooth rendered with a small chimney located at the gable apex. Two lancet-arched window openings at first floor. Brick coal bunker abutting ground floor level, right of centre.

The right (west) elevation principally matches the left elevation. Variations include additional ground floor door entrance located in the second from left bay. No first floor external access.

Setting

Located on one of the principal thoroughfares through Bangor. The front is bounded by cast and wrought iron railings on brick walling with sandstone coping; central stone steps with replacement handrail. Modern brick wall with timber gate adjoining the left elevation. Modern ramp access adjacent to the right elevation with galvanised railing. Adjacent buildings include Masonic Hall (HB23/07/008) and St Comgall's Church (HB23/07/007A) to the east. Two-storey Victorian residential buildings to west and south; two-storey mixed-use to north.

Roofing: Natural slate/copper
Walling: Brick
Windows: Leaded & uPVC
RWG: uPVC/cast-iron.

Historical information

The Irish Builder announced in October 1902 that “a new Memorial Hall, to the memory of the late Marquis of Dufferin, is to be erected in connection with the Parish Church, Bangor County Down. Plans, etc are being prepared by Messrs Young and Mackenzie, and will soon be ready. Approximate cost is £3,000”. The publication invited tenders for the building of the hall in November 1902 and noted that tenders had been received at the end of that month. It is likely, therefore, that work began on the building in 1903. (Irish Builder)

The building entered valuation records in 1906 as a memorial hall leased by the Committee of Dufferin Memorial Hall, later the Dufferin Trustees (1908), from James Lowry. It is first shown on the fourth edition OS map of 1919-26. The Memorial Hall and yard were valued at £28 and later raised to £40.

On 2nd December 1905 the Irish Builder announced the opening of the completed building. “The handsome and spacious hall erected in Bangor, Co Down, to the memory of the late Marquis of Dufferin and Ava, was opened on Thursday 23rd November by the Lord Primate of the Church of Ireland. The site adjoins the parish church in Hamilton Road. The building is designed in the early Jacobean style, and executed in red brickwork with Dumfries sandstone dressings. Two halls are provided by the design; the larger 80 ft by 40 and the less, half that area. The plumbing work was executed by Mr M Morrow; stained glass and leaded lights by Messrs Ward and Partners, Clarendon Place, Belfast; heating, on the low pressure system, by Messrs Mackenzie and Moncure Ltd, Edinburgh; railing and collapsible gates, by Ritchie’s structural iron works, Belfast; carving from special design by Mr T Vineycomb MRIA, by Mr J Winter, Belfast. The general building contractor was Mr James Savage, Belfast and the architects Messrs Young & Mackenzie, Belfast.” (Irish Builder)

The building of the hall was recalled by local man William Seyers in the 1930s, “Mr James Savage was a very successful builder and did a lot of first-class work. The building of the Dufferin Hall was a large undertaking. The firm was not like a big city firm with a big lot of scaffolding, winches, etc., but Mr Savage carried it out in a most satisfactory manner, and it is a credit to him. He is now resting on his oars.” Patton notes that Savage’s unconventional building methods included “the setting up of a 42ft log to winch the hammer beams into place, then walking up it ‘nailing footholds as he mounts" (Seyers, p.36; Patton, p.92)

According to Patton, the building was constructed as the parish hall but has been used for various purposes, including the court house during the Second World War. It remains in use as a parish hall. (Patton, p.92-5)

References

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/3/2/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map 1919-26
2. PRONI OS/6/3/2/5 – Fifth Edition OS Map 1939
3. PRONI VAL/12/B/23/9A-S – Annual Revisions (1900-1930)
4. Irish Builder, Vol 44, 6 November, 1902, p.1426
5. Irish Builder, Vol 44, 20 November, 1902, p.1472
6. Irish Builder, Vol 44, 4 December, 1902, p.1486, 1504
7. Irish Builder, Vol 47, 2 December, 1905, p.870

Secondary Sources

1. Patton, M, “Bangor, An Historical Gazetteer” Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1999
2. Seyers, W T “Reminiscences of Old Bangor” Belfast: Lion Gate Press, 1983

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

V. Authorship
X. Local Interest
Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance

Evaluation

A large two-storey Edwardian free-style hall dated c.1905. Built to the designs of Young & McKenzie, displaying an eclectic mix of detailing. Located in the centre of Bangor in an area defined by a number of halls which are significant in stature and of various styles. Set adjacent to the Masonic Hall (HB23/07/008), opposite the Hamilton Road Methodist Church (HB23/05/003) and east of St. Comgall's Parish Church of Ireland (HB23/07/007A). Although some alterations have occurred, its character remains intact. Of historic and local interest owning to its connection with the Dufferin Estate and as the work of recognised architects. It also has group value as the hall to St Comgall's.

General comments

This record was previously recorded as HB23/07/009 and has been renumbered as part of the St. Comgall's Parish Church of Ireland record.

Within Bangor Central Area of Townscape Character