Halifax

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A three storey commercial ashlar sandstone building on Donegall Square North built in Classical style in 1895-1900 by W.H. Lynn.

Modern roof sits unseen behind parapet with urn balusters; round metal downpipe to west corner. Walls of ashlar Dumfries sandstone, band rusticated to the ground floor: moulded, heavily projecting cornices, dentilled to ground and second floors, run at each floor level with plain friezes, the first floor extends to form pediments over slightly projecting bays at each end; continuous moulded string at second floor cill level; the ground floor cornice projects in curved and canted bays forming balconettes to the first floor windows, those over the doorways are stone, those over windows are timber, all the infill balustrading is of timber. The second floor window openings have segmental arched heads with moulded architraves and exaggerated keystones; first floor windows have flat lintels, plain surrounds with cavetto reveals (with the exception of the central window which has a moulded architrave and canopy sitting on volutes forming balconette to window above), paired and tri-partite windows are separated by pilasters with simple moulded capitals. Ground floor end windows have segmental arched heads, the remaining openings have flat lintels. The doorways are framed by black marble columns on octagonal bases with sandstone Ionic capitals carrying full entablature, the columns to the side doorways are engaged; the central door opening is arched with a moulded archivolt and exaggerated keystone. Windows are 2 pane timber replacement sashes, ground floor shop fronts and doors are modern replacements.

The south elevation is symmetrical, 11 windows wide (second floor: 2/1/2/1/2/1/2; first floor, tri-partite/1/2/1/2/1/tri-partite). The central section of 7 windows projects slightly and the first floor pedimented tri-partite window projects slightly further. The central first floor window has a canopy on volutes over which forms a balcony to the second floor window. Three columned doorways to ground floor with flanking plate glass shop fronts.

The west elevation is abutted by Linenhall Library (HB26/50/013).

The north elevation is abutted by HB26/50/273.

The east elevation has projecting cornices at each floor level and a cornice matching the south elevation. The ashlar stone wall has three blind windows each to ground and first floors and two to the first floor.

Setting

11-15 Donegall Square North is one of many listed buildings forming the boundary of the important square at the heart of Belfast. It sits facing the grounds of City Hall (HB26/50/001A) and the Scottish Prudential building (HB26/50/012).

Roof: Unseen.
Walls: Sandstone.
Windows: timber .
RWG: Metal.

Historical information

Nos 11-15 Donegall Square North, a three-storey red sandstone building originally constructed for the Belfast Banking Co., was constructed between 1895 and 1900 to designs by W. H. Lynn (1829-1915). Lynn, the preeminent architect during Belfast’s Victorian and Edwardian period, began practising as part of the partnership Lanyon & Lynn; however by the turn of the 20th century Lynn had established an independent practise in the city. Three decades previous to designing the Belfast Bank, Lynn had also designed the Italian Gothic linen warehouse at nos 1-3 Donegall Square North (see HB26/50/015) (Dictionary of Irish Architects).

Construction of nos 11-15 Donegall Square North was begun in 1895 and not completed until 1900; despite this, the building was first included in the Annual Revisions in 1896 which set the initial value of the unfinished building at £1,281. By 1901 the building had been fully completed and consisted of three ground floor retail units and office space making up the upper floors. In that year the Belfast Street Directory recorded that the ground floor units were occupied by the Belfast Banking Co., the Patriotic Assurance Co., and the Princes’ Restaurant; the upper offices were occupied by an accountancy firm and solicitor’s office as well as rooms for a photographer and a clothing merchant. Upon completing his work on the building, the architect W. H. Lynn also occupied one of the upper rooms as his main office (Lynn shared the office with Samuel Patrick Close (1842-1925) until his death in 1915) (Belfast Street Directory – 1901; Dictionary of Irish Architects).

In 1907 the spirit and wine dealers, Lyle & Kinahan, took over the Prince’s Restaurant and converted the unit into a licensed store. In the same year the Commercial Union of London Insurance Co. also took over one of the ground floor units, while in 1918 the Belfast Banking Co. expanded their branch into the adjoining unit (formerly occupied by the Patriotic Assurance Co.) and also into one of the upper floor offices. The 1918 Belfast Street Directory notes that S. P. Close continued to occupy offices at the site after Lynn’s death in 1915, whilst the same variety of accountants and solicitors firms continued to occupy the upper floors (Belfast Street Directory – 1907 18).

Nos 11-15 Donegall Square North was increased in value to £2,270 under the First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1935). Due to the disruption caused by the outbreak of the Second World War there was no further revaluation carried out for over two decades; during the war the Belfast Banking Co. and Commercial Union of London Insurance Co. continued to occupy the ground floor retail units and, although S. P. Close had vacated the site, a number of the upper offices were occupied by other architects including Hugh Gault and Smith & Cowser, and surveyors W. H. Stephens & Sons (Belfast Street Directory – 1943).

The Belfast Banking Co. vacated nos 11-15 Donegall Square North in 1961 when the Central Branch was relocated to new premises and the remainder of the building leased out to tenants. By the end of the Second Revaluation (1956-72) nos 11-15 Donegall Square North had been increased in value to £3,508 10s. and was occupied by a variety of private companies including Jaeger Co. Shops Ltd.and Renee Meneely Ltd., both clothing shops.

Patton states that nos 11-15 Donegall Square North (originally known as Donegall Square Buildings) replaced a number of three-storey structures that formerly occupied the site; the 1880 Belfast Street Directory notes that these buildings included the Springfield Bleaching Co., and the offices of a flax spinner, a bleacher, and an oil and chemical merchant (Belfast Street Directory – 1880; Patton, p. 118). Nos 11-15 Donegall Square North was utilised as the Central branch of the Belfast Banking Co. for over 60 years and was described as ‘the most profitable of the Belfast Bank’s branch offices.’ Originally established in 1827, the Belfast Banking Co. opened Central Branch in 1897, midway through construction of the building, and continued to operate from the cramped premises until 1961 when the bank constructed a new property immediately next to the former site. No. 9 Donegall Square North (Bank House) was erected in 1961 to designs by Smith & Cowser, whilst the remainder of the former branch offices were leased out to tenants (Simpson).

Nos 11-15 Donegall Square North was listed in 1987; Patton, writing in 1993, described the building as a ‘three-storey building in red sandstone with balustrade cornice.’ The interior of the building has been completely stripped resulting in the loss of all original fabric; the interior was reconstructed in 1990 by MacRae, Hanlon & Spence with the retention of Lynn’s listed classical façade. Although the interior of the building has been entirely refurbished, the exterior red sandstone façade has been maintained in generally good condition, however the stonework bears evidence of ‘past bomb damage presenting as fractures and impact marks’ (Patton, p. 118; Stone Database website). Nos 11-15 Donegall Square North continues to be occupied (appropriately with its history as a branch of the Belfast Banking Co.) by two banks, First Trust and Halifax.

References

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/1/61/2 – Second Edition Ordnance Survey Map 1858
2. PRONI OS/6/1/61/3 – Third Edition Ordnance Survey Map 1901-02
3. PRONI OS/6/1/61/4 – Fourth Edition Ordnance Survey Map 1931
4. PRONI OS/6/1/61/5 – Fifth Edition Ordnance Survey Map 1938
5. PRONI VAL/12/B/43/C/17-44 - Annual Revisions 1897-1930
6. PRONI VAL/7/B/9/46 - Belfast Revaluation 1900
7. PRONI VAL/3/B/3/14 – First General Revaluation of Northern Ireland 1935
8. PRONI VAL/4/B/7/39 – Second General Revaluation of Northern Ireland 1956-1972
9. Belfast Street Directories (1880-1943)
10. First Survey Image – HB26/50/174 (1984)
11. Ordnance Survey Map – 130-13SE (1959)

Secondary Source

1. Larmour, P., ‘Belfast: An illustrated architectural guide’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1987.
2. Patton, M., ‘Central Belfast: An historical gazetteer’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1993.
3. Simpson, N., ‘The Belfast Bank: 1827-1970’ Belfast: Blackstaff Press Ltd., 1975.

Online Resources

1. Dictionary of Irish Architects - http://www.dia.ie
2. Stone Database website - http://www.stonedatabase.com//buildings.cfm?bk=2550

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
V. Authorship
Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance
X. Local Interest
U. Historic Associations

Evaluation

A three storey building constructed for the former Belfast Banking Co to designs by W.H. Lynn. Built in 1895-1900 and refurbished during the1990s. It is located in the centre of Belfast city centre in the setting of several listed buildings around Donegall Square such as Linenhall Library (HB26/50/013), Belfast City Hall (HB26/50/001A) and the Scottish Prudential building (HB26/50/012). Although the original interior has been modernised, much original historic fabric and fine detailing survives elsewhere, with a bold Classical frontage of fine Dumfries sandstone. The building represents the development of Belfast's commercial centre in the late Victorian era and is the work of an architect of note.