Building at former Laundry 72-84 Bangor Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Large low level single storey building with roughcast façade and Belfast Truss roof built c.1910-20 as part of a large laundry complex. The building is set to the south side of what is now a largely derelict complex to the east of Bangor Road, on the northeastern outskirts of Newtownards.

The building measures roughly 24m x 12, is sunken slightly and abutted to the W by a larger structure. The façade is finished in roughcast and is largely devoid of openings save for a couple of widely spaced windows to the N and S elevations and some smaller windows and a pedestrian entrance to the E elevation (which is approached by a short flight of steps due to the sunken nature of the building). The curved roof is covered in corrugated metal. The building is partly obscured on all exposed sides by unkempt greenery.

Historical information

Map evidence suggest this building is post 1901- it may have been built c.1910-20.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI OS/6/3/6/3 OS map, Co Down sh 6, 1901

The Belfast truss was developed in the mid-nineteenth century to meet the demand for efficient, lightweight and long span roofs brought about by the industrial revolution. A detailed description of the historical development of the Belfast truss is included in the record for HB18/08/139. In brief, the first known reference to a curved wooden felted roof structure supported by bowstring girders is in an advertisement in the Dublin Builder for 1866 by the Belfast firm of felt-makers, McTear & Co. McTear’s continued making trusses until they went out of business in 1908.

A second Belfast felt supplier, Anderson & Co., began to produce trusses, to a slightly different design, in 1886. In 1896, Anderson’s launched their Mk II version; promoted as maximising long spans whilst maintaining light weight. This model was subsequently used by other companies, and is referred to by historians as the Belfast truss, although this term is widely used to apply to all timber bowstring trusses where the internal bracing members meet not on the bottom of the truss as was the convention but on the top curved member.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Large low level single storey building with roughcast façade and Belfast Truss roof built c.1910-20 as part of a large laundry complex.
A large but somewhat altered example of an early 20th century Belfast Truss roofed building.

General comments

Surveyed as part of the Belfast Roof Truss survey.