Masonic Lodge

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Large, two storey, plain Art Deco style Masonic hall of 1939-40 by John MacGeagh, in brick and artificial stone with two small shops incorporated into the frontage. The building is situated on the N side of Crumlin Road, to the W of the old county Gaol.

The front façade faces S and is symmetrical. To the centre of the façade is a tall recessed doorway reached via a short flight of tiled steps with granite flankers. The recess is lined in artificial (sandstone-like) stone and to its front limit are two ‘outer’ columns in similar ‘stone’, with simple modern style capitals and bases. These support a large artificial stone panel with a central inner panel in Art Deco style by Morris Harding depicting stone masons at work. Between the columns are iron gates with large Masonic symbols thereon. To the back of the recess is a large panelled timber double door with large multi-paned rectangular fanlight above.

Flanking the doorway recess are tall narrow windows with recent metal frames and narrow ‘stone’ surrounds. These windows originally had multi-paned frames (as did the first floor windows). To the far left and far right on the ground floor shop front, both in relatively nondescript modern style, but neatly contained within their respective openings. To the first floor there is a long central row of windows with three pairs of metal framed lights separated by ‘stone’ piers. To either side of this is another pair of windows, in similar style. Above the central row of windows is a small stone panel with the Masonic symbol of square and dividers thereon. The high stone caped parapet hides the slated hipped roof.

Because of the close proximity of neighbouring properties, the W elevation is difficult to see in its entirety. To right is the W face of the main hipped roof front section, with is abutted by a neighbouring single storey building to the ground floor and blank to the first floor. To the left of this there is a long two storey hipped roof return section, which ‘rises’ to the S of a large L-shaped flat roofed single storey section which extends further to W and N.

To the W face of the flat roofed section is blank there is a large metal framed window and a timber sheeted door (with plain fanlight), roughly to the left of centre. To the far left is a slightly lower projecting section, with small window to the W and S faces (both covered with security grills. To the N face there is a large-ish window to left with metal frame, then a much smaller window with two pane frame, then, to far right a timber sheeted door with rectangular fanlight. To the left on the E face of the flat roofed section there is a large metal framed window. To right of this is a projecting square bay with a smaller window with metal frame, to S face of this bay is a similar window.

Only the upper half of the first floor level of the W face of the large two storey return, for against this level (rising out of the roof of the surrounding flat roofed section), there is a ‘lean-to portion. The W face of this lean-to appears to be blank. To it short N face there is a metal sheeted door, with a large section of [?metal] sheeting to the façade above the door. To the exposed upper section of the first floor level of the W face of the return there is a row of windows. These appear to have metal frames.

To the ground floor of the N face of the return there is a large metal-framed window with obscured glazing. To the left on the first floor there is a plain metal-sheeted fire escape door. A new fire escape is currently undergoing construction. The E face of the return faces into the neighbouring gaol and only part of it could be seen. It appears to be completely blank. The exposed E face of the main front section is blank also.

To exposed rear (N) face of the main front section there is a shallow single storey flat roofed projection with a timber sheeted door. To first floor (to main section itself) there is a small metal framed window.

Apart from the areas in ‘stone’ already mentioned the façade is completely in red facing brick. The roofs of the main front section and the return are hipped and slated. A brick chimneystack rises from the NE corner of the return with another close to the NW corner of the flat roofed section. Metal rw goods with typically Art Deco ‘zigzag’ pattern to hoppers to front.

Surrounding the front entrance are simple metal railings with gates. The metal gate posts are topped with simple urns. To the rear of the property is a yard (used as a car park), surrounded by a very high wall in brick, breeze block, render and corrugated-metal. To the NW corner is a vehicle gateway with tall metal sheeted gates.

Historical information

This Masonic hall was built between April 1939 and February 1940, to designs by John MacGeagh, with the figurative panel above the entrance by Morris Harding. It replaced an earlier hall of c.1890-92 which stood on the opposite side of the Crumlin Road.

The window frames to the front were replaced recently (c.1999-2000). The hall is currently shared by a number of lodges.

References- Secondary sources
1 Paul Larmour, ‘Belfast: An illustrated architectural guide’ (Belfast 1984), p.92

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Z. Rarity
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Large, two storey, plain Art Deco style Masonic hall of 1939-40 by John MacGeagh, in brick and artificial stone with two small shops incorporated into the frontage. Above the entrance is a figurative panel by Morris Harding. A good example of Art Deco architecture by a renowned local architect.