Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB26/32/001 I

Address :
Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children 180-184 Falls Road, Belfast BT12 6BE

Townland:
Town Parks

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Survey 2:
B1

Date of Listing:
14/04/2026 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Hospital Building

Former Use
Hospital Building

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
No

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
146-04 & 147-01

IG Ref:
J3200 7350

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Owner Category

Health Board

Exterior Description And Setting

A red brick building complex in Neo-Georgian style dating from 1928-32 to designs by Tulloch & Fitzsimmons and constructed by H. & J. Martin. The complex consists of three buildings: a three-storey plus attic hipped roof L-shaped building that has lower hipped roof abutments to SE (block A), a single storey flat-roofed rectangular plan porch (block B) and a two-storey plus attic hipped roof rectangular plan building with single storey abutment to SW (block C). Block B was built as the entrance to what was formerly the Children’s A&E department. The entire complex is adjoined to S with modern single- and two-storey buildings and is located within the site of the Royal Victoria Hospital fronting onto Falls Road. At the time of survey, refurbishment works to adjoining buildings meant that some windows to the S and E were temporarily obscured. Hipped natural slate roof with rolled-top leaded ridge. Cast iron ogee guttering discharging to circular downpipes. Overhanging eaves on heavy cornice supported on corbelled brackets. Rustic red brick walling laid to stretcher bond with Portland stone dressings on moulded stone plinth. Square-headed window openings with flat arches above and projecting stone cills having double-hung timber sash windows with ogee horns; 6/9 panes to GF, 6/6 panes to FF and SF (unless otherwise noted). Square-headed dormers with leaded cheeks having casement windows and some replacement windows to hipped roof abutments to Block A. Rectangular plan chimney stacks with moulded stone coping and red clay chimney pots to Block A. Copper polygonal ventilation lanterns to roof to Block C. Principal elevation: The principal elevation faces N and consists of Blocks A, B and C. Block A is a symmetrical three-storey plus attic building with central entrance bay flanked by five-bays and adjoining two-bay wide hipped roof end projections. Portland stone Portico to central bay in classical style; four Doric columns support a plain frieze and moulded cornice. Moulded architrave to FF window with scrolled and panelled plinth, pilasters with Ionic capitals and a broken segmental pediment above, which forms the base to moulded stone architrave to SF window. The square-headed door opening beyond the portico has a double-leaf timber panelled door with fanlight and opens onto four stone steps. Base plinth to columns engraved with ‘This stone was laid by Mrs. Harold Barbour 5th June 1929'. Single storey canted bay in ashlar Portland stone with raised parapet to hipped roof projections. The slightly recessed porch of block B has a five-bay flat-arched colonnaded portico. Four circular columns each having a square base and Tuscan capital are flanked by matching square engaged pilasters. These columns support a plain frieze and a stone parapet with the name of the hospital in raised metal lettering, topped by a moulded stone coping. Square-headed door opening with moulded stone architrave flanked by engaged columns having a double-leaf timber panelled door with multi pane glazing to upper section and plain fanlight. Tall sliding sash windows arranged symmetrically in two bays to either side of entrance, with stone cills, set within smooth rendered wall. Block C has a two-storey plus attic symmetrical elevation facing N with a five-bay wide middle section flanked by two-bay wide hipped roof end projections. Replacement windows to FF central opening and W projection having slightly canted three-part casement windows with top hung opening lights to outer panes. All window openings are square headed formed in soldier coursed gauged brick. West elevation: The W elevation consists of the nine-bay wide W elevation of Block C abutted by a single hipped roof three-bay wide projection to S end and a later single storey flat roofed three-bay wide dark brick extension to the middle. Part of the GF of Block C is obscured by the extension and some GF windows have been replaced with timber casements. The flat roofed extension has modern top-hung timber casement windows. W elevation to Block A is enclosed within the courtyard formed by the modern single and two storey red brick extension that adjoins the S elevation of Blocks A and B. It is comprised of two storey plus attic red brick with a less formal fenestration, abutted to S end by a hipped roof single storey projection. Windows all protected by temporary polythene sheeting at the time of survey but the majority of openings appear to have retained original sliding sashes beyond. Dormers have side opening timber casement windows, split into four vertical panes, with lead cladding to cheeks and roof. South elevation: The S elevation is abutted by modern single and two-storey buildings that connect to Blocks A, B and C. Only the hipped roof single storey abutment and part of the remainder of C is visible to the W end, and part of Block A is visible to the E end, with the latter now enclosed within a courtyard. Single storey monopitched abutment to centre of Block A. This elevation is generally less formal, although both the square headed window openings and overhanging cornice employed at the front are repeated, albeit with a simpler boxed eaves detail. Temporary polythene sheeting is fixed to all windows on the S elevation at the time survey although again the majority appear to retain original sash windows. Further S, single-storey and single-storey over basement hipped roofed abutments to Block A have some remaining sliding sash windows with 6/6 panes, natural slate roofs with rolled lead ridge, exposed rafter tails to overhanging eaves and cast iron guttering and downpipes. East elevation: The E elevation consists mainly of the E elevation of block A. Six-bay wide three-storey plus attic double hipped roofed section to N end, a recessed two-storey with attic eight-bay wide section to middle abutted to E by a modern single storey flat-roofed extension and adjoined to S by a two-storey hipped roof further abutment. Single storey three-sided canted bay in ashlar Portland stone with raised parapet to double hipped roofed projection to N. Replacement timber casement windows to GF. The GF of the two-storey section is obscured by the modern single storey flat roofed extension which has a horizontal band of top-hung casement windows. Square-headed door opening to last bay to S having a modern flush door opening onto concrete steps with simple metal balustrade and handrail, painted black. Further square headed door opening to lower GF immediately to S, adjoined by single storey over basement hipped roof abutment comprised of four bays, with all openings having replacement windows to GF and louvered vents to LGF; second bay from S has bricked up window. Block C has a two-storey plus attic four-bay wide elevation facing E with a replacement square-headed door opening to S bay with smooth rendered surround, painted. Setting: Tarmaced parking around the building, with simple concrete steps and ramp providing universal access to W that has circular section metal handrails and uprights, all painted black. The site is enclosed by modern metal railings on low red-brick walling to Falls Road entrance. Original red brick walling with panels formed by corbelled moulded bricks set between brick piers at regular intervals and capped by moulded stone coping immediately in front of Block C along N boundary. High random rubble basalt walling aligns W boundary, possibly as a remnant from the asylum that previously occupied the site. The Hospital for Sick Children is part of the Royal Victoria Hospital that includes the King Edward VII Buildings (HB26/32/001 D), the Perimeter Wall, Gates & Railings (HB26/32/001 F), the Statue of Queen Victoria (HB26/32/001 G), the Front of the Original Hospital (HB26/32/001 H), the Microbiology Building (HB26/32/001 J), the Musgrave Wing (HB26/32/001 K) and the Extern Waiting Hall (HB26/32/001 L). Materials: Roof: Westmoreland green slate RWG Cast iron, painted Walling Rustic red brick with Portland stone dressings Windows Double-hung timber sash windows, multi-paned; with some timber casements.

Architects

Stevenson, Samuel Tulloch & Fitzsimons

Historical Information

Dating from 1928-32, the new Belfast Hospital for Sick Children replaced the children’s hospital in Queen Street in Belfast. A site close to the location of the old Asylum was offered to the Board of Management by Belfast Corporation and accepted. The new hospital was designed by the Belfast firm Tulloch & Fitzsimons. The contract to build the hospital was awarded to H. & J. Martin in late 1928. The value of this contract, which only covered the construction work, was £76,886. The foundation stone was laid on 5 June 1929 by Mrs Harold Barbour. The administrative wing, the Extern Department and two ward blocks with space for 74 beds were completed at a cost of £115,000. An electricity sub-station was built in 1930. The hospital is shown for the first time on the 1931 Ordnance Survey map where it is named Belfast Children’s Hospital. The hospital opened for the reception of patients on 11 April 1932. An official opening by the Duchess of Abercorn took place on 24 November 1932. The style has been described as modified Georgian (Larmour, p. 83). It was built of brick with dressings of Portland stone. The coloured tile panels depicting nursery rhymes, fairy tales, etc, on the walls of the Musgrave and Barbour wards were designed by Anne Y. Yeames and manufactured by Minton Hollins & Co., Stoke on Trent. They were installed by Norman MacNaughton & Sons Ltd. The first major addition was the paying patients’ unit was built in 1939-40. The architect was C. E. Elcock of Elcock & Sutcliffe, London, who worked alongside the hospital’s consulting architect, John Stevenson of Samuel Stevenson & Sons. (George Goligher has also been credited with the design.) The contractor was H. & J. Martin. This wing was named the Clark Children’s Clinic and was officially opened on 15 March 1944 by Angela Doxford, a granddaughter of Sir George Clark. Sir George and his brother, Captain H.D. Clark, were its benefactors. The ‘Royal’ prefix was conferred in 1948. In 1995 the foundation stone for a major new development was laid. This was completed in 1998. References Maps Ordnance Survey 1:1,250 scale map, County Antrim sheet 60.12 (covering Falls Road area of Belfast), 1931 – reproduced by Alan Godfrey Maps (Gateshead, 1989) Published sources H. G. Calwell, The life and times of a voluntary hospital : the history of the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children (Belfast, 1973) Alf McCreary, The Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children : one hundred years of caring ... 1873-1973 (Belfast, 1973) Harold Love, The Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children: a history, 1948-1998 (Belfast, 1998) Paul Larmour, Belfast: an illustrated architectural guide (Belfast, 1987) R. S. J. Clarke, The Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast: a history, 1797-1997 (Belfast, 1997) Online sources Dictionary of Irish Architects: www.dia.ie – which
references Irish Builder, 14 April, 7 July, 4 August, 8 December 1928; 19 January 1929; 4 January, 20 December 1930; 27 February 1932; 19 November 1932; 6 March 1937; 18 February, 18 March 1939; 3 August 1940

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

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

Evaluation

A red brick building complex in Neo-Georgian style dating from 1928-32 to designs by Tulloch & Fitzsimmons and constructed by H. & J. Martin. A well-proportioned principal elevation with refined Classical detailing in Portland stone to the main entrance which has retained most of its original timber sash windows, canted Portland stone bays, prominent heavy corniced eaves, green slate hipped roof, lead clad dormers and tall chimneys. The buildings replaced the children’s hospital in Queen Street in Belfast and was initially named Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, with the colonnaded portico (Block B) providing the entrance to the former Children’s A&E department. Although this building has now been replaced with a new children’s hospital, completed 1998, it remains in use and retains many internal features of interest. Of particular note are the bespoke tiled panels to the Barbour and Musgrave Wards that depict nursery rhymes and the rotunda-shaped public foyers. This complex fronts onto the Falls Road and it is unique within the Royal Victoria Hospital as it dates from the interwar period and is separated from the main historic buildings, built in the Victorian and Edwardian eras (HB26/32/001A-H inclusive and HB26/32/001K & L), which dominate the Grosvenor Road frontage. There are some similarities in the use of formal rhythm and symmetry employed to provide a neat, uniform and impressive public facade.

General Comments

To Note: At the time of listing, the Department acknowledges that the Belfast Trust is advancing redevelopment proposals which could include the demolition of the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, Royal Victoria Hospital to provide essential additional capacity for patient care. Any proposal affecting this building will require Listed Building Consent, to be submitted to and determined by Belfast City Council in its role as Local Planning Authority. In this process, the Department will act as a statutory consultee. The Department will not oppose development that serves the wider interests of the people of Northern Ireland and acknowledges that while development proposals which demonstrably support the delivery of critical health services and the wider public interest may be appropriate, the ultimate decision rests with the Council. It is for the Council to consider the building’s heritage value alongside the significant health and community benefits associated with the Trust’s proposals, in line with planning policy at the time of determination.

Date of Survey

15 May 2014