Queen’s Hall

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Large modern style two storey hall (with library) of 1959, set between West Street and Regent Street, with the entrance to the hall on the former and that to the library on the latter.

The West Street (N) facade consists of a projecting single storey section, behind which is the gable of the main hall itself. The single storey section has a flat roof and is slightly broader than the main hall gable, extending around the E and W sides of the main hall in U-shaped fashion. To the front it is faced with sandstone with a large central recessed entrance with three sets of glazed double doors. A large flat roofed ‘port-cochere’ extends from the entrance and is supported on several thin metal columns. On either side of the recessed entrance are three small ‘slit’ windows. At the E and W sides it is faced in a grey-ish brown concrete brick.

To the W and E sides there appears to have originally been access through to Regent Street (via ‘covered ways’) but both sides were extended in 1961, effectively blocking off direct access between the streets.

The (shallow pitched) gabled upper section of the main hall ‘rises’ above the single storey section and is also in concrete brick. The N gable has a narrow gabled projection to the front which acted as a projection room. The main gable itself is partly finished in plain painted render with a series of narrow ‘slit’ windows to the centre. To the E and W sides of the upper section of the hall (above the flat roofed portion) are a row of square-ish single pane windows.

The Regent Street (S) facade is fully two storey with a flat roof. At ground floor level the facade is mainly glazed with a (largely) flat roofed ‘portico’ over and a central ‘porch’ with glazed doors to E and W. The whole of this ground floor section appears to have been renovated recently and has a distinct 1990s appearance (i.e. brightly coloured metal frames and much glazing). Above this the facade is finished in and a combination of brown-ish red brick and sandstone arranged in ‘panels’ separated by concrete ‘pilasters’ (the outer and centre panels sandstone faced- the rest in brick). In the largest central ‘panel’ there is a crest and two angled flag poles. Concrete parapet to front.

The main pitched roof and the flat roofs appear to be covered in copper.

Historical information

This hall was built in 1959 to designs by Henry Lynn. The extensions to the sides were added in 1961.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Large modern style hall with library built in 1959 to designs by Henry Lynn. Small extensions to the east and west sides were added in 1961 and the glazed panels and porch to the library facade appear to be 1990s replacements.