First Ballymacarrett Presbyterian Lecture Hall

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

An attached double-height seven bay Presbyterian lecture hall, built 1928, located at the end of Paulett Avenue to the south of the First Ballymacarrett Church (HB26/08/023A).

Rectangular on plan, roofs are pitched (hipped over north bay) natural slate with angle red roll top clay ridge tiles (lead roll to hips); roof over south bay is flat; cast iron gutters on precast concrete chamfered corbelled eaves detail with replacement brown uPVC rainwater pipes; walls are buttressed red facing brick with precast concrete chamfered plinth and precast concrete details; square headed precast concrete mullion and transom windows with multi-pane leaded lights.

Principal elevation faces west and is seven bays long, symmetrical about the central bay. Central five bays are identical and form the main block of the lecture hall; these are flanked by entrance bays. The main block has raised gables and copings as before with corbelled kneelers. All five bays of the main block are separated by buttresses with plat bands and angled roll top finials. Buttress at left corner of main block is diagonal. Each bay of the main block has a single window at both floor levels. Windows at ground floor have brick relieving arches over. Windows to central three bays are four lights wide with windows in the two flanking bays being three lights wide.

The first bay (far left/north) has hipped roof lower than that of the main block and has canted external corner. It contains single central gothic door opening with square headed stained timber sheeted doors with and sheeted tympanum over, all set within chamfered surround within square headed recess with spandrels containing quatrefoil cusped ocular detail and hood mould with stop ends. There is a rectangular granite datestone over the entrance inscribed 'AD 1928 ' with a three light wide window directly above. The seventh bay (far right) has a flat roof with raised parapet walls with copings as before and octagonal corner piers which extend above the parapet with plat bands and chamfered octagonal copings but is otherwise detailed as that to north

Side (north) elevation has bipartite window with flush chamfered cills and on each floor at far right. At far left is a steel framed casement window with lintel and flush chamfered cill at ground and first floor. A Tudor door opening has stained timber sheeted door within chamfered surround with recessed triangular spandrels and hood mould as before. Door is flanked to right by two small windows with lintels and flush chamfered cills. That to left has timber hopper window. That to right has steel window. Doorway and timber window have single small windows above with lintels and flush chamfered cills. That to left has a steel frame. That to right has a multi-pane leaded light.

The rear (east) elevation first bay (far right) has single small opening at ground level separated from a steel casement window by a lintel. There are two windows above, one on each floor; both have lintels and flush chamfered cills with three light wide steel windows. The five first floor windows of the main block are the same shape and position as those to the front, except the mullions and transoms are plain in detail and the glazing is Georgian wired glass. There is a central Tudor door opening with stained timber sheeted door and chamfered surround flanked by single small square headed window openings (that to left has steel frame, that to right has timber frame); tripartite window above with hood mould as before. To right be two bipartite windows detailed as before. Ground floor to left of door is obscured by snooker hall.
Side (south) elevation of main block is abutted to rear by a neighbouring building. Exposed gable over entrance bay is blank. Elevation of south bay has octagonal pier at both corners and is cement roughcast to string course level. A large sign board with blue lettering ('1st Presbyterian Church Ballymacarrett') and strip light is mounted top left of the elevation. There are no openings.

Setting:-

The lecture hall is located at the end of Paulett Avenue at the east of the carriageway and to the south of the First Ballymacarrett Church (HB26/08/023A). It is part of a complex of buildings on a site partially bounded by a tall red brick wall and partially by adjacent buildings. It is immediately adjacent to the carriageway to the front and encloses a garden to rear bounded by the hall, church, snooker room and former Sexton's house.

Roof Natural slate
Walling brickwork / cement render
Windows Leaded glass
RWG Cast-iron / uPVC

Historical information

The Presbyterian lecture hall was built in 1928.

The building does not appear on the First Edition OS map which shows a new road in progress (Albertbridge Road).

Buildings appear on the Second and Third Edition OS maps, however these are not the current structure.

The Dictionary of Irish Architects states that the hall and the sexton's house were built to designs by John McGeagh.

A booklet by Mr John Robinson, F.A.I. titled '1837-1937 Centenary Record of First Presbyterian Church Ballymacarrett, Belfast' (Belfast 1937) notes the following:-

"The fourth... Minister.... Rev. W. J. McGeagh, BA., formerly of Brookside, Ahoghill and First and Second Moneymore. The one item of outstanding interest during…'his' pastorate….'was' the erection of a commodious Lecture Hall, at a cost of £7,000, together with a Sexton's residence also erected at the rear of Hall. The problems confronting the church in the city to-day are many and difficult, and one of the biggest is that of holding the young. Hitherto our old church has been terribly handicapped for lack of proper accommodation, but the building of a new Hall has given her a fresh lease of life, and opened up doors of opportunity for service amongst the young.

The foundation‚ stones of the New Hall were laid on Saturday, 5th May, 1928, by Alderman Mrs. McMordie, O.B.E., J.P., High Sheriff; Mrs. R. T. Martin, ].P. M.Sc.; Miss McBratney, for Robert McBratney, Esq., New York; Rev. W. McGeagh, B.A.; and on Saturday, 6th October. 1928, the Hall was opened by Her Grace the Duchess of Abercorn, the Moderator of Assembly (the Right Revote. A. Smyth, MA., LLB.), presiding.

First Ballymacarrett is to be congratulated on shouldering such a heavy responsibility in these most difficult times, but such is the spirit of the old church that in the space of seven years a debt of £7,000 has been completely wiped out."

References- Primary sources
1. First Edition OS Map (1834)
2. 'A Plan of the Town of Belfast Engraved by Permission from the Ordnance Survey' dated 1838
3. Second Edition OS Map (1858)
4. Third Edition OS Map (1901)

Secondary sources
1 Mr John Robinson, F.A.I, '1837-1937 Centenary Record of First Presbyterian Church Ballymacarrett, Belfast' (Belfast 1937)
2 Mr Keith Haines, 'Images of Ireland East Belfast' (Dublin 1997)
3. The Dictionary of Irish Architects

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

An attached red brick double-height seven bay Presbyterian lecture hall, built 1928, to designs by John McGeagh. This substantial hall forms part of an interesting group of associated buildings, the First Ballymacarrett Church (HB26/08/023A) and the Mountpottinger National Schools (HB26/08/023B), which demonstrates the development of the site by the congregation. However, the hall is of a late date and, although an illustration of the minor works of a significant local architect, it is not among the best examples of the type.

General comments

Listing query - HB26/LQ214