Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB26/07/009

Address :
Administration and drawing office block (Harland & Wolff) Queens Road Belfast BT3 9DV Co Down

Townland:
Ballymacarrett

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Survey 2:
B+

Date of Listing:
13/03/2002 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Office

Former Use
Office

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
Yes

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
Partially

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OS Map No:
130/10

IG Ref:
J3516 7528

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Owner Category

Commercial Public Body

Exterior Description And Setting

Long, somewhat Mannerist, three storey office block in sandstone and brick, built in stages between c.1885 and c.1912 use as the administration and drawing office for Harland & Wolff shipyard. The building is situated within the shipyard complex, on the NW side of the SW end of Queen’s Road, with the main works buildings to the SE and the site of a former slipway (from where the Titanic was launched) to the NW. To the SW is the Abercorn Basin and the Hamilton dry dock. The building is generally U shaped in plan, with the long three storey front wing and three storey end returns, but set between the returns are two tall single storey drawing offices, which give the entire building a roughly E-shaped plan. These drawing offices appear to be the oldest sections of the structure and were probably fronted by an original entrance block which was cleared away when the present entrance block was erected. At first glance, the main three storey block appears to possess a relatively uniform front (SE) elevation. However, closer inspection of this front elevation reveals that the block is composed of four main sections built at various dates, but which have been given a semblance of unity by the fact that all are of the same height, topped with a balustraded parapet and (from a distance) appear to be built of the one material. The largest section (which also contains the main entrance) is to the centre and left. It is faced in red (Dumfriesshire-like) sandstone. To the immediate left and immediate right of this are much smaller sections, both mainly identical and faced in brick, whilst, to the far right is a another sandstone section, in the same style as the ‘entrance’ section but much smaller. The actual main entrance is to the right of centre of the ground floor of the ‘entrance’ section. It consists of a broad, panelled timber double door, encased with polished granite panelled pilasters and a (sandstone) pediment, with broken entablature, supported on curved and fluted brackets. Directly above the door is an elliptical fanlight with plain glazing. Beneath the entablature is a moulded keystone with flanking spandrel panels. To the left of the doorway are four pairs of sash windows with segmental arch heads and a moulded keystone. These windows rest on a polished granite sill course, and below this the sandstone is rock faced (as opposed to the rest which is dressed). To the left of these windows is a broad, flat arched vehicle gateway with the remains (the side pedestrian gates and piers) of a decorative iron gate screen. The remaining piers of this have decorative panels and concave pyramidal caps. The pier to the right is topped with the remains of an iron light fitting, but that to the left pier is now missing. To the right of the main entrance are two pairs of windows as left. To the first and second floors of the ‘entrance’ section there are nine pairs of flat arch sash windows, with those to the second floor considerably shorter. These windows rest on a moulded sill course and are separated by plain pilasters. Between the ground and first floor there a string course. The façade is topped with a dentilled cornice and the balustraded parapet. To the left and two the right of the ‘entrance’ section are the two smaller brick built portions. These have four sash windows to each floor, with those to the second floor much shorter. Between each floor is a moulded sandstone course and, to the ground floor the brick is arranged as rustication, with rock faced sandstone below ground floor window level. Both portions are topped with a plain cornice and balustraded parapet as before. The section to the far right repeats the style of the ‘entrance’ section but with five pairs of windows to each floor. A single storey section stretches from the right (NE) of the section to the far right, linking to a more modern (c.1950) building to the NE. The front façade of this single storey portion carries on the detail of the ground floor of its three storey neighbour to the left. The short SW elevation repeats the styling of the brick-built portions described above, but with a much greater amount of openings to each floor. These opening all almost exclusively all windows with mid 20th century looking three pane frames, but two former windows (second from left on first and second floors) have been made into doors which serve a large modern fire escape. To the far right on the ground floor there stretches a small, single storey wing with a flat roof. This in turn links to a long, low, one and a half to two storey brick built building of c.1910, with a line of large segmental headed windows to the front. The short NE elevation repeats the styling of the previously described sandstone faced blocks, but with flat arch windows to the ground floor. To the left on the ground floor stretches the single storey wing which links to the c.1950 block (see above). To the left on the first floor a modern style glazed link has been inserted (which also stretches to the c.1950 building). The rear elevation is made up of two three storey end returns with the two lower, gabled drawing office projections between. The NW façade of the NE return largely repeats the arrangement of the NE elevation, but is in brick rather than sandstone. To the SW this return projects to the left hand side, where it is abutted at ground and first floor level by one of the drawing offices (referred to as ‘drawing office B’ in the interior description). To the right of this projection (in an area which is completely enclosed by the drawing office), there used to be a single storey ‘design office’, but this has been demolished and the site is now open. The second floor of the SW façade of the return has a row of windows largely as before. The (NW facing) gable of the drawing office to the left (NE) is has been rendered in relatively recent times, and it looks as though this render has obscured the original fineness of detail of the courses etc.. To the ground floor there is a sheeted door, with fanlight, to the left , with six windows (with mid 20th century looking frames), to the right of this. The windows are separated by simple pilaster piers and rest on a sill course. To the upper level are five semicircular headed windows set with three large shallow recesses. The three centre windows (which share a recess) are much taller than the outer two. There is a roundel recess near the gable apex.. The SW façade of the drawing office is now exposed, but originally there was a lower gabled section (the secretaries’ office) attached to this side, which spanned between this drawing office and that to the SW (‘drawing office A’). The exposed SW façade of the left hand drawing office is blank, and is topped with a portion of the roof, which has been carried further on this side in mansard fashion (this was obviously carried out after the adjoining section was demolished). The drawing office to the SW largely repeats the styling of its near neighbour, but is exposed to both NE and SW sides (both of which are blank) and does not possess a doorway to the ground floor of its gable. The exposed upper portions of the rear façade of the main front block, above and between the drawing offices, is in painted brick and possesses an informal collection of small, (mainly sash), windows. Just above the intersection of the NE drawing office and this façade, there is a small section of smooth rendered façade with the incongruous remains of a cornice. This may be an portion of the original entrance building which fronted the drawing offices. To the right of the SW drawing office, the rear façade of the main block and the NE and NW facades of the SW return are of brick construction and largely plain in appearance, having rows of largely identical windows to each floor, all much the same as the short SW façade. The roof of the main section of the building is hipped and slated. Cast iron rw goods. To the N-NW of this building is a large open space which was the site of a former slipway. The ill-fated Titanic was launched from this slipway in May 1911.

Architects

Not Known

Historical Information

A map of the Harland & Wolff site in 1885 shows what appears to be the two gabled drawing offices with a long narrow block fronting on to the Queen’s Road and stretching further to the north east and a separate stable block just to the south west. By 1912 the building appears to have taken on much of its present shape (photographic evidence suggests this also). It is difficult to be certain as to the evolutionary sequence of the building, but it does seem clear that the original frontage to the main drawing offices was probably demolished. The brick facing of the end ‘return’ blocks suggests they were not built at the same time as the main sandstone fronted ‘entrance’ section. References- Primary sources 1 D.2805 Harland & Wolff Papers Secondary sources 1 ‘The Port of Belfast 1785-1985’ (Belfast Harbour Commissioners 1985) 2 Michael Moss and John R Hume ‘Shipbuilders to the world:125 years of Harland & Wolff’ (Belfast 1986)

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style B. Proportion C. Ornamentation D. Plan Form H-. Alterations detracting from building I. Quality and survival of Interior K. Group value

Historic Interest

W. Northern Ireland/International Interest Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance Z. Rarity

Evaluation

Long, somewhat Mannerist, three storey office block in sandstone and brick, built in stages between c.1885 and c.1912 use as the administration and drawing office for Harland & Wolff shipyard. The oldest sections of the building appears to be the two large single storey drawing offices to the rear, which were probably originally fronted by a smaller entrance block set along the Queen’s Road.

General Comments

Date of Survey

12 May 2000