Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB26/13/018

Address :
Viscount Craigavon's Tomb Parliament House Stormont Estate Upper Newtownards Road Belfast County Antrim BT4 3XX

Townland:
Ballymiscaw

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Survey 2:
B1

Date of Listing:
13/03/1987 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Mausoleum

Former Use
Mausoleum

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
No

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
130-16

IG Ref:
J4025 7508

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Owner Category

Central Govt

Exterior Description And Setting

Free-standing Portland limestone mausoleum on stepped base, erected c.1942, to the designs of Roland Ingleby Smith. Rectangular on plan and located to the east of Stormont Parliament (HB26/13/013). Solid block of Portland limestone with stepped top and corners on a shallow plinth base and set on a stepped platform. Carved coat of arms to the west flanked by two figures in relief. Inscribed to the north face stating; “THE RIGHT HONOURABLE / JAMES / VISCOUNT CRAIGAVON OF STORMONT / FIRST PRIME MINISTER OF NORTHERN IRELAND / 1921-1940 / Died Nov.24 1940 / AND HIS WIFE / CECIL VISCOUNTESS CRAIGAVON “. Inscribed to the south face stating; ERECTED / BY / THE PARLIAMENT OF NORTHERN IRELAND / IN MEMORY / OF / A GREAT ULSTERMAN”. Roof N/A RWG N/A Walling Portland limestone ashlar Windows N/A Setting: Located to the east of Stormont Parliament and set within a small gravel garden enclosed by formal hedging and yew trees.

Architects

Smith, Roland Ingleby

Historical Information

Viscount Craigavon’s Tomb, a Portland limestone mausoleum located to the east side of Parliament Buildings (HB26/13/013), was completed in 1942. The tomb was commissioned following the death of Viscount Craigavon (James Craig) on 24th November 1940. The following day the Northern Ireland Parliament passed a bill permitting Craig’s burial within the grounds of the Stormont Estate. The Portland limestone sarcophagus was designed by Roland Ingleby Smith (1882-1942), the chief architect and deputy director of works for the Northern Ireland Ministry of Finance. Craigavon’s tomb was completed in 1942 and was one of the final contracts that Smith completed prior to his own death in the same year (Natural Stone Database; DIA). James Craig (1871-1940), Viscount Craigavon and First Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, was born at Sydenham in East Belfast. The son of a wealthy whiskey distiller, Craig initially pursued a career as a stockbroker before enlisting in the Royal Irish Rifles during the Second Boer War (1899-1900). Craig began his political career in 1903 when he was elected to Westminster as a Unionist M.P. but it was between 1912 and 1914 that he rose to prominence as one of the leaders of the unionist anti-Home Rule movement. Following the Partition of Ireland and the establishment of the Northern Ireland Government, James Craig was appointed the first Prime Minister of Northern Ireland in 1921, and Viscount Craigavon in 1927. Craig died whilst still serving as Prime Minister (Oxford Dictionary of National Biography). Viscount Craigavon’s Tomb is also the final resting place of James Craig’s wife, Cecil Mary Craig who married the future Prime Minister in 1905 and was interred with him following her own death in 1960 (Gallagher; The Peerage). James Craig’s tomb bears the Craigavon’s Coat of Arms and is inscribed on both sides. On one side of the tomb is written ‘THE RIGHT HONOURABLE / JAMES / VISCOUNT CRAIGAVON OF STORMONT / FIRST PRIME MINISTER OF NORTHERN IRELAND / 1921-1940 / AND HIS WIFE / CECIL VISCOUNTESS CRAIGAVON’ and on the other side ‘ERECTED / BY / THE PARLIAMENT OF NORTHERN IRELAND / IN MEMORY / OF / A GREAT ULSTERMAN.’ A statue to James Craig was unveiled within the Central Hall of the Parliament Buildings in 1945. This statue was designed by L. S. Merrifield who had also been responsible for the Lord Carson Memorial Statue (HB26/13/019). In 1985 the First Survey described Viscount Craigavon’s Tomb as a ‘carved stone block raised on two steps and all enclosed by a hedge.’ The tomb was subsequently listed in 1987. The NIEA HB Records note that in 2013 approval was granted for the restoration of Lord Craigavon’s sarcophagus. The restoration will involve the replacement of all damaged stone, the cleaning of all surfaces, the repointing of all joints using lime mortar and the cleaning of all surfaces (NIEA HB Records). References Primary Sources 1. PRONI OS/6/3/5/5 – Fifth Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1938-39) 2. First Survey Record – HB26/13/018 (1985) 3. First Survey Image – HB26/13/018 (No Date) 4. NIEA HB Records – HB26/13/01 Secondary Sources 1. Gallagher, J., ‘Stormont: The house on the hill’ Belfast: Booklink, 2008. Online Resources 1. Dictionary of Irish Architects - http://www.dia.ie 2. Natural Stone Database - http://www.stonedatabase.com//buildings.cfm?bk=2506 3. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography - http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/32310?docPos=1 4. The Peerage - http://www.thepeerage.com/p28038.htm

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style B. Proportion C. Ornamentation D. Plan Form J. Setting K. Group value

Historic Interest

R. Age S. Authenticity T. Historic Importance U. Historic Associations Z. Rarity V. Authorship W. Northern Ireland/International Interest

Evaluation

Portland limestone mausoleum on stepped base, erected c.1942, to the designs of Roland Ingleby Smith as a tomb for James Craig, Viscount Caigavon. A plain yet boldly designed memorial which echoes the style and materials of the nearby Parliament building. The formal planting provides a private setting within the grounds of the Parliament buildings. It has group value with the other listed structures in the Stormant estate. Craig began his political career in 1903 when he was elected to Westminster as a Unionist M.P. but it was between 1912 and 1914 that he rose to prominence as one of the leaders of the unionist anti-Home Rule movement. Following the Partition of Ireland and the establishment of the Northern Ireland Government, James Craig was appointed the first Prime Minister of Northern Ireland in 1921, and Viscount Craigavon in 1927. Craig died whilst still serving as Prime Minister

General Comments

Date of Survey

12 February 2014