St. Mark’s Parochial Hall

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Large, two storey, modern style, gabled parochial hall of 1953/4, set on the E side of William Street, to the W of Newtownards town centre. The building is brick built with a pan tile roof and full height glazed bay to front.
The entrance is located in the centre of the W gable and is set within the full height glazed central bay. The projecting (open) entrance porch is to the ground floor of this bay and has an odd ‘hipped’ roof and plain (angled) concrete side walls. Within the porch is a set of sturdy timber double doors with glazed panels with obscured toughened glass. Large ‘splayed’ sidelights.
The large glazed bay around and above the porch has many thin concrete ‘mullions’ with narrow lights between. Much of the glazing to these lights consists of obscured leaded panes, with simple heraldic motifs to some panes at first floor level. To either side of the central bay at ground floor level is a squat three light window.
The N and S facades are largely similar with a projecting lean to-like portion to W end and tall multi-pane metal framed windows set between brick ‘pilasters’. To the rear gable is a small, single storey, hipped roof projection. The pan tile covered roof has an over hang with boxed in eaves. Metal rw goods.
To the N of the hall is a long single storey [?store], built mainly of corrugated iron.

Historical information

This parochial hall was opened in May 1954 by Lord Wakehurst, Governor of Northern Ireland.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Large, but ultimately unremarkable two storey gabled parochial hall of 1953/4, built in modern style with brick facade, pan tile roof and large glazed bay to front.

General comments

This property was originally noted under the ref. HB24/11/42, but has been transferred to its proper ward (Central).