The Rock Public House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A mainly two-storey flat-roofed building with a three-bay wide single storey projection to front elevation in Edwardian style and three-storey pitched roof block to W dating from c.1900. Rectilinear plan form. The building is located at the corner of Falls Road and Rockmore Road.

Two-storey building has a flat-roof with raised parapets and concrete coping. Three-storey building has a pitched roof in artificial slate and half-round uPVC guttering discharging to circular downpipes. Hoppers discharging to circular downpipes to remainder of N elevation.

East elevation:
The five-bay E elevation is rendered. Modern shop front to the first two bays to S and single storey three-bay canted projection to N end to GF comprising; sandstone walling on chamfered marble plinth, depressed arched openings with moulded architrave, pronounced keystones and carved spandrels flanked by engaged pilasters with moulded capitals. Carved aprons below. Scrolled and decorated consoles support a moulded sandstone fascia and plain marble frieze with applied metal lettering ‘THE ROCK’. Dentilled cornice topped by a raised carved stone parapet with decorative foliate and head motifs. Central door opening flanked by a window to each side having painted timber windows. Three-centred arch window openings to side elevation facing N and S. Recessed roller shutter with concealed guides and box to door opening. Architrave above entrance engraved with the inscription 'F. O'Neill Licensed for the Sale of Beer, Spirits and Wine for Consumption on the Premises' Square headed modern window openings to FF having timber effect uPVC casement windows.

North elevation:
The eight-bay N elevation consists of a two-storey five bay block to E and a three-storey pitched roof block to the last three bays to W. Red brick to upper floors. Continuous concrete cill and flush banding at FF lintel. The GF is in reconstituted stone with square headed openings flanked by two-stage engaged pilasters with carved heads to capitals and fluting to lower stage. Moulded aprons below. The capitals support a frieze with raised upper-case lettering (2&4. Whiskey Stores. F.O'Neill Wine Cellars. 2&4) and a dentilled cornice above. Square-headed timber panelled doors to fourth bay from E and last bay to W. GF openings have three-centred arch timber framed windows having modern decorated frosted glazing. All windows have surface-mounted roller shutter boxes and guide rails. Square headed windows with modern timber casements to FF and SF.

West elevation:
The W elevation is abutted by the adjacent two-storey red brick building.

South elevation:
The gabled S elevation is abutted by the neighbouring three-storey red brick building.

Setting:
The building is located at the W side of Falls Road, at the corner of Falls Road and Rockmore Road.

Materials:
Roof: Artificial slate
RWG: uPVC
Walling: Sandstone/ reconstitute stone, concrete and red brick
Windows: Fixed moulded timber windows to GF/ uPVC casements to FF and SF

Historical information

This part of Belfast, in the west of the city along the Falls Road, began to be developed from the end of the nineteenth century. The Valuation Revision Book shows that a shop and yard had been opened by Francis O’Neill by 1900 at 491 Falls Road. This was changed to Licensed house, shop, store and yard, including 2 and 4 Rockmore Road. The valuation of £22 in 1900 changed to £65 in 1903. ‘Rock (P. H.)’ is marked on 1904 Ordnance Survey map.

In 1901, the O’Neill family was resident further up the Falls Road at no. 93. The census of that year shows that Francis O’Neill was a 41-year-old wine and spirit merchant. He was a native of County Tyrone. His wife Beatrice J. O’Neill was aged 31 and from County Antrim, while their son and six daughters had all been born in Belfast. At some point after this Francis moved his family to his new business premises because the 1911 census shows the family resident at 4 Rockmore Road.

Francis O’Neill had married Beatrice McDonnell in St Malachy’s Catholic Church in Belfast on 12 June 1888. A note appended to the marriage record stated that Francis’s parents, John and Cecilia O’Neill, were from Donaghmore, County Tyrone. Beatrice McDonnell, daughter of John McDonnell and Elizabeth Kane, was baptised in Cushendall Catholic Church on 26 April 1870. Francis O’Neill died on 11 February 1912. He was a wealthy man for at his death his estate was valued at £2,118 16s. 4d.

The bar was damaged in the troubles of the early 1920s. This is reflected in the Valuation Revision Book which in 1923 records that the value of the premises were reduced from £75 to £20, with the word ‘dilapidated’ added to the description of the buildings. The Irish Builder of 19 April 1924 has a reference to W.J. Convery and ‘The Rock’ possibly indicating that he was responsible for its reconstruction. In 1925 the value of the buildings was increased to £50. An undated comment in pencil in the Valuation Revision Books states ‘Premises now rebuilt and not now dilapidated.’

W.A. Green's photograph of this part of the Fall's Road, c.1917, shows that the prior to troubles in the early 1920s, the ornate sandstone bay to the ground floor also extended to the second floor and beyond that was an attic level which terminated in a gabled roof with raised verge, ornate pinnacles and a cast iron finial. The adjoining property was a red brick two-storey plus attic terraced house with projecting bay that matched those that still exist further along the terrace.

References

1. Public Record Office of Northern Ireland
2. Ordnance Survey 6-inch map, 1904 – OS/6/1/60/3
3. Ordnance Survey 1:1056 map, 1905 – OS/8/30/5/76
4. Ordnance Survey 6-inch map, 1920-39 – OS/6/1/60/4
5. Valuation Revision Books – VAL/12/B/43/D/18 (1897-1905)
6. Valuation Revision Books – VAL/12/B/43/J/3 (1906-15)
7. Valuation Revision Books – VAL/12/B/43/J/6 (1915-30)
8. First Northern Ireland General Revaluation Books: Annual Revision Lists, 1936-57 – VAL/3/C/3/13
9. W.A. Green photograph of the Falls Road - MBR, Pat Collins Library, NIEA, Waterman House, Belfast

Online sources
1. Dictionary of Irish Architects: www.dia.ie (which
references the Irish Builder of 19 April 1924)
2. 1901 and 1911 census returns: www.census.nationalarchives.ie
3. Rock Bar website: www.rockbarbelfast.com/history-rock-bar

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
S. Authenticity
T. Historic Importance
Z. Rarity
X. Local Interest
Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance

Evaluation

A mainly two-storey building, of interest due to an elaborate sandstone three-bay single storey Baroque style projection to the main frontage, with rare Edwardian window frames, dating from c.1900. Located on a prominent corner at the junction of Falls Road and Rockmore Road. Whilst damage incurred c.1920 caused the loss of stone to the upper floors, sufficient original detail has survived, including many internal details of architectural merit. Of special note are the privacy booths that are similar to those at the Crown Bar (HB 26.30.003). At the NE corner junction, the building material changes from sandstone to reconstituted stone, and considerable efforts have been made to reflect the earlier ornamentation, proportion and detailing. It also features the name Frank O'Neill, the original proprietor, in raised lettering. Despite modifications and substantial modernisation to the upper floors, this building retains its unique character both inside and out and it is one of the more distinctive buildings on the Falls Road.