Pavilion

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Single storey hipped roof Neo-Georgian style pavilion constructed on the grounds of Stormont Estate between 1938 and 1959. Rectangular floor plan facing west, situated close to the top of Massey Avenue, to the east side of the Lord Carson Memorial Statue (HB26/13/19).

Hipped natural slate roof with overhanging eaves having timber fascia, sheeted soffit, mitred hips and terracotta crested ridge tiles. Half round painted metal guttering discharging to circular metal downpipes on N and S elevations. Concrete frame is expressed as geometric pilasters externally; windows are small-paned fixed lights with concrete cills having rendered panel below.

Principal Elevation
Principal elevation is symmetrical, facing west and consists of 3 bays. Central square-headed opening; end bays have 12-pane fixed lights. Tarmac path leading to interior.

North Elevation
Single bay north elevation consists of tri-partite window with 12-pane central light flanked by 6-pane lights.

South Elevation
Single bay east elevation consists of tri-partite window with 12-pane central light flanked by 6-pane lights.

East Elevation
Three bay north elevation is symmetrical and consists of central tri-partite window consisting of three 6-pane lights flanked by 12-pane lights.

Setting:
Situated in a woodland
setting within the grounds of Stormont Estate close to the top of Massey Avenue, to the east side of the Lord Carson Memorial Statue (HB26/13/19).

The building sits on a shallow concrete plinth forming a narrow pathway around the building. Tarmac footpath to west with timber edging and decorative bark ground cover.

Historical information

This shelter, a single-storey pavilion located to the east side of the Edward Carson Statue, was constructed between 1938 and 1958-59. The shelter was not depicted on either the fifth edition Ordnance Survey map (1938-39) or the contemporary Ordnance Survey County Series Map of 1938 but was recorded on the Ordnance Survey map of 1958-59 which depicted the pavilion along its current layout.

The building is very similar in design to the shelter at the Massey Avenue entrance to the Stormont Estate which had been constructed in 1936. The Massey Avenue shelter had been designed in a Neo-Georgian style, possessing a hipped roof, which emulated neighbouring buildings (such as the adjoining gate lodge and Provincial Bank of Ireland) that had been designed by Sir. Arnold Thornely, the architect of Parliament Buildings.

The First Survey Record for the Massey Avenue shelter described the building in the following terms: ‘A single-storey hipped roofed pavilion with small paned windows in symmetrical elevations. Concrete corner posts and rendered panels between. Neat and seemly for such an important approach road.’

References

Primary Sources
1. PRONI OS/6/3/5/3 – Third Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1901-02)
2. PRONI OS/6/3/5/4 – Fourth Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1919-20)
3. PRONI OS/6/3/5/5 – Fifth Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1938-39)
4. PRONI OS/10/3/5/5/3 – Ordnance Survey County Series Map (1931)
5. PRONI OS/10/3/5/5/4 – Ordnance Survey County Series Map (1938)
6. Ordnance Survey Map 130-16 (1958-59)
7. First Survey Record – HB26/13/042 (1994)

Secondary Sources
1. ‘Parliament Buildings Stormont: The building, its setting, uses and restoration 1922-1998’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1999.
2. Gallagher, J., ‘Stormont: The house on the hill’ Belfast: Booklink, 2008.
3. Larmour, P., ‘Belfast: An illustrated architectural guide’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1987.

Online Resources
1. Dictionary of Irish Architects - http://www.dia.ie

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
S. Authenticity
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Single storey hipped roof Neo-Georgian style pavilion constructed on the grounds of Stormont Estate between 1938 and 1959 by the Ministry of Finance, NI. Rectangular floor plan facing west, situated close to the top of Massey Avenue, to the east side of the Lord Carson Memorial Statue (HB26/13/19). Simply detailed and well-proportioned, the building reflects the style of the buildings on the site designed by Sir Arnold Thornley such as the entrance lodges (HB26/13/20 and HB26/13/21) and Parliament Buildings (HB26/13/013). Its interest is enhanced by its setting within the Stormont estate. A similar structure is located to the west just within the entrance gates and screen of the estate, fronting onto Massey Avenue (HB26.13.052A).