Castlereagh Police Station

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A large flat-roofed building in a modern style comprising a rectangular three-storey block (the police station) in rustic brick linked to a lower curved two-storey block (the office block) with natural stone gables. Main entrance to curved block faces south; main entrance to rectangular block faces west.

Curved block: south elevation is symmetrical, consisting of 21 bays of curtain glazing divided by projecting fins of artificial stone blocks, rising from a projecting base of two courses of unpolished granite, and carrying a projecting flat concrete roof. Blocking course of roof covered with asphalt and surmounted by tubular steel railings (looks like later addition).
Curtain glazing is a modern replacement of c 1990, with wide PVC frames, and opaque panels not to original pattern, in place of original thin steel frames.
Main entrance is in ground floor of centre bay: comprises a pair of glazed rectangular doors with vertical slats, with sidelights and fanlight all in stained hardwood; unpolished granite step, with concrete paved open porch in front.
Entrance porch: single storey open to each side with a screen wall to the front, carrying a flat concrete roof with canopies canted up to each side. Screen wall of polished granite with central recessed panel of perforated Portland stone blocks, inscribed with the date 1957 and originally set with a carved crest, recently removed. Unpolished granite steps to each side, with polished granite copings covering tubular steel handrails (looks like later addition). Circular glass rooflights in square recesses in ceiling of porch roof. Each bay flanking main entrance has a polished granite planter at its base.
At the extremities, the natural stone gables project forward; mason’s mark inscribed at base of gable to left.

Extending to the right and set back is a curved single storey east wing in rustic brick on a blue brick base; projecting eaves of flat concrete roof, with spalled areas revealing iron reinforcing rods. Windows are rectangular, of steel, including a long horizontal band at the curved corner; projecting concrete cills.

North gable of curved block: two-storey, of random rubble (described in the press at the time as from Craigantlet in Co Down) comprised of green schist and basalt; thin concrete coping. Two windows to ground floor: original rectangular steel framed comprising a fixed light with side-hung vent, projecting concrete cill; flush concrete lintel. Along base of gable is a concrete paved area with retaining wall of original concrete brickwork.

Rear elevation of curved block is two-storey, of rustic brick on a low projecting base of blue brick and tile coping; projecting concrete eaves to flat roof above; cast iron downpipes. Windows are rectangular, set in slightly recessed full height panels: some windows are original, of steel comprising fixed lights, top vents and side-hung casements, but some are recent replacements in PVC of thicker section, to original pattern.

South gable of curved block similar to north gable but with one window to first floor, rectangular, consisting of new replacement PVC in place of original steel frames, set in concrete or cement rendered surround with original projecting concrete cill; ground floor partly obscured by original projecting single storey building in rustic brick on a slightly projecting blue brick base, with oversailing eaves to flat concrete roof above.

Rear elevation has two two-storey returns in rustic brick: the one at the north end forms a link to the main rectangular block; to the east of that is one forming a link to a more recent control centre, built of rustic brick on a blue brick base, with curved corners and flat roof; at the eastern extremity is an original flat-roofed curved single storey return in rustic brick with a projecting porch facing north, linking with a single storey rectangular block in similar materials but with an asphalt covered segmental roof. Rectangular block has high-level horizontally banded windows, original steel, to west elevation, and original steel curtain glazing to the east elevation.

Main rectangular block: three-storey; south elevation of rustic brick on a base of unpolished granite; concrete coping to flat roof; windows are rectangular, original steel (except for one replacement in PVC) comprising fixed lights, side-hung casements and top-hung vents; projecting concrete cills to upper floor, with flush concrete lintels. Ground floor windows are of similar steel but set in blue brick panels divided by projecting concrete fins carried on a projecting granite base and supporting a projecting concrete head.
Main entrance, placed centrally, comprises a panelled and glazed hardwood door set in similar sidelights and fanlight, approached by concrete steps; flat timber canopy carried on steel posts (entrance and porch looks like a later addition).

West elevation of main rectangular block is faced with artificial ashlar stonework on a slightly projecting unpolished granite base, recessed between projecting rustic brick walls of long north and south elevations. Windows are rectangular steel coupled side-hung casements set in continuous projecting timber surrounds, but windows to left-hand side have just been replaced in PVC, not to original pattern.
Main entrance is central, comprising a rectangular panelled door flanked by recessed side panels of rustic brick, surmounted by a flat projecting canopy, above which is a large window panel of steel framed curtain glazing. Concrete slabs to doorstep approached by unpolished granite steps with unpolished granite retaining walls.

Projecting forward at the left of the end gable is a flat-roofed two-storey curved bay in rustic brick on a slightly projecting unpolished granite base. Three windows to first floor at front, new replacement rectangular PVC set in flush plane but with curved concrete lintels and cills. Ground floor has a horizontal band of windows, new replacement PVC, set within a continuous projecting surround.

Extending to the left of the curved bay is a single storey wing, of similar walling, with similar replacement PVC windows.

Rear elevation of main rectangular block: rustic brick on a blue brick base; rectangular windows originally of steel, of similar pattern to front elevation, but currently being replaced in PVC; cast iron downpipes.

East end elevation of main rectangular block: three-storey, of similar brick with a taller projecting stair bay; stair window is a large expanse of curtain glazing of original steel members but including some later aluminium replacements.

Standing to the north and joined to the main rectangular block by a first floor link, is a former telephone exchange of two storeys, in rustic brick, with a panelled roughcast ground floor. Windows are now replacement PVC.

SETTING: The building stands on a corner site within a built-up area. Boundary to south and west formed by an original low wall of rustic brick surmounted by later steel fencing. Area within compound all covered with tarmac, with various temporary or prefabricated buildings in places. Boundary to north formed by a high rustic brick wall. Boundary to east formed by a rustic brick wall surmounted by later steel fencing.

Original gateway toward eastern end of south boundary comprises a pair of rectangular piers of rustic brick on granite bases.

At the east end along the northern boundary is a pitched roofed garage of rustic brick with rectangular steel windows; steel trussed roof and steel framing inside. To the west of the garage is a later two-storey building known as the 'holding centre' within a rustic brick walled compound.

At the west end is a pair of semi-detached houses in rustic brick with concrete tiled roofs, and rectangular windows, some original steel, some new PVC.

Historical information

Built in 1957-8 for the Royal Ulster Constabulary, comprising a police station together with an office block and headquarters for the City Commissioner, to designs by the Chief Architect's Branch, Works Division, Ministry of Finance, Government of Northern Ireland, under the direction of the chief architect, Charles Munro.

References – Primary Sources
1. Original architectural perspective drawing in possession of owners, displayed in the building.
2. OS Map 1975, Sheet 147 (surveyed 1955-71).
Secondary Sources
1. Belfast Telegraph, 7 August 1958.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

This is a mid-20th century building in a modern style designed in the official government architect's office. It has lost a number of original exterior features and is not of listable quality.