Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB26/50/012

Address :
Scottish Provident Building 7 Donegall Square West Belfast BT1 6JH

Townland:
Town Parks

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Survey 2:
A

Date of Listing:
26/06/1979 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Office

Former Use
Office

Conservation Area:
Yes

Industrial Archaeology:
No

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
130-13SE

IG Ref:
J3372 7404

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Owner Category

Exterior Description And Setting

Attached symmetrical multi-bay six-storey over basement with attic-storey sandstone neo-Palladian office block, dated 1902, to the designs of Young and Mackenzie architects. U-shaped on plan with a central bow surmounted by pedimented block and chamfered corner elevations surmounted by octagonal domed pavilions. Located on the west side of Donegall Square with retail units to the ground floor and extensively renovated c.2009. Complex arrangement of pie-ended and hipped natural slate roofs with skylights, rendered and redbrick chimneystacks set behind balustraded parapet having squat panelled piers surmounted by segmental pediments, pedestals and ball finials. Copper cyma recta guttering with lion masks to the base of parapet resting on the continuous crown cornice. The seventh floor is three windows wide, built as a central dentiled pedimented block behind the parapet, corresponding to the central bowed bay with copper raking cornice, copper antefixa to either end and copper acroter to the apex. The tympanum is filled with an applied copper coat of arms while the three round-headed windows have blocked surrounds with keystones and are flanked by panelled squat piers. The pedimented block is set behind a central bowed balustrade parapet (as per above) with each pedestal surmounted by copper dolphs and the entire composition flanked by copper sphinxes on pedestals. The domed pavilions to either end are octagonal on plan with diminutive round-headed window openings to each side rising from a dentiled cornice. Each pavilion is surmounted by a highly decorative pointed copper dome with scrolled brackets flanked by lion masks and bay-leaf garlands, oeil-de-boeuf corners, fish-scale domical vault and surmounted by large knops. Coursed and tooled Giffnock sandstone ashlar walling with elaborate sandstone carvings to front and side elevations, redbrick to rear. Square-headed window openings with decorative sandstone architrave surrounds and single-pane timber sash windows with ogee horns and plate glass. The symmetrical front elevation is 17 windows wide with the central three windows forming a shallow bow below the pediment and a further single window to either chamfered corner below the pavilions. The second, third and fourth floor windows are each framed by engaged Giant order Corinthian columns on panelled pedestals rising from a continuous dentiled cornice to the first floor while forming the sill course to the second floor. The pedestals are embellished with lion masks to the panels while supporting a deep architrave, pulvinated frieze and deep modillioned and dentiled crown cornice above. The central bow is detailed as above with paired Corinthian columns while the panelled pedestals depict printing, ropemaking, shipbuilding and spinning in deep carved relief. Over each fourth floor window is a queen’s head with festoons and bell-flowers. The fourth floor windows have architrave surrounds, keystones and curved sills flanked by corbels. The third floor windows have architrave surrounds and keystones, moulded sills spanning between columns and surmounted by decorative foliate carvings. The second floor windows have blocked architrave surrounds resting on continuous lead-lined cornice. The first floor has channel-rusticated walling, plinth course rising from the ground floor cornice and a pulvinated frieze, embellished with foliate carvings to the central bow and large heraldic shields between windows. The first floor windows are framed by Ionic panelled pilasters on pedestals with guilloche mouldings and acanthus scrolled brackets supporting dentiled cornices with shallow segmental pediments and foliate tympanums. The ground floor has glazed retail units to all bays except for the northernmost four windows, flanked by polished rusticated granite pilasters having sandstone Ionic capitals with lion masks or winged putti supporting frieze blocks with cartouches and surmounted by a continuous lead-lined dentiled cornice forming the sill course to the first floor. The northernmost four windows are round-headed with blocked architrave surrounds and ancons surmounted by large scrolled brackets and amorini supporting curved cornice at first floor sill level (or former balconies). The walling to this section is channel rusticated with alternating fluting and vermiculation, polished granite plinth course and surmounted by a frieze with continuous festoons. To the south of the central bow is the principal entrance to the upper floors with a voussoired round-headed opening formed in Portland stone having a cartouche to the keystone, fluted impost course and carved amorini to the spandrels holding a ribbon stating; ‘Scottish Provident Buildings’. A glazed entrance screen is set within the arch with a later barrel-vaulted glazed steel canopy and steel gates. The northeast chamfered bay has a glass and iron clock-face at parapet level with dentiled pediment and flanked by squat pedestals with scrolled brackets and surmounted by segmental pediments and ball finials. The second, third and fourth floors are detailed as per remaining elevations. An advanced entrance porch is framed by a pair of banded Doric columns supporting an architrave, pulvinated frieze and dentiled cornice. The porch is surmounted by an aedicule having paired Ionic columns rising from plinth course supporting an open-bed segmental pediment with two heraldic shields to the tympanum. The aedicule houses a figurative marble group, depicting ‘the beautiful seal’ of the Scottish Provident Institution on a block base with applied copper lettering stating ‘Scottish / Provident / Institution’. Within the porch is a round-headed arch with ancon depicting Scotia, stiff-leaf capitals rising from marble panelled pilasters and polished granite plinths. Pair of double-leaf panelled and glazed hardwood doors are set within the arched opening opening onto a pair of nosed marble steps with a mosaic tiled platform within the porch and a further three curved nosed white marble steps flowing onto the pavement. The southeast chamfered corner is detailed as per the principal elevation with a dentiled and pedimented panel at parapet level (detailed as per northeast clock) with a carved cartouche with monogram; ‘SI’ and date plaque; ‘A.1902.D’. South side elevation is six windows wide, detailed as per principal elevation. Rear elevation is abutted by three full-height redbrick projections with gauged brick square-headed window openings having single-pane timber sash windows and masonry sills. North side elevation is seven windows wide, detailed as per principal elevation. To the east end is an advanced elliptical-headed entrance bay with an archivolt head having acanthus and lion mask voussoirs rising from engaged banded Tuscan columns resting on semi-octagonal pedestals and polished granite plinths. A carved panel over the doorcase states; ‘Scottish / Provident Buildings’ flanked by acanthus scrolled brackets supporting a dentiled hood cornice. The rusticated walls extend into the recessed opening with a pair of replacement panelled timber doors and plain overlight enclosed to the street by decorative wrought-iron railings and a single nosed stone step to the street. Setting Occupying the majority of the west side of Donegall Square facing City Hall (HB26/50/001A) with its north side elevation fronting onto Wellington Place. Roof Natural slate RWG Copper / cast-iron Walling Coursed tooled sandstone ashlar Windows Single-pane timber sash

Architects

Young & Mackenzie (remodelling)

Historical Information

The Scottish Provident Building constitutes one of two large office blocks built in Donegall Square, to the designs of Young and MacKenzie during the late 19th century. The Royal Linen Warehouse for Robinson and Cleaver Ltd (HB26/50/014) was constructed first on the north of the square in 1888, followed by the larger Scottish Provident Institution, built on the eastern side between 1897-1902. The outline of the building is first shown on the third edition OS map (1901-02) on a site previously occupied by the offices and yards of linen merchants and, at No.5-6, the Donegall/Union Hotel (Street Directories 1880-97). In 1899 the first phase of the building, at the corner of Donegall Square and Wellington Place was in progress and by 1900 the Belfast Revaluations show this section had been completed. The building was occupied by the Scottish Provident Institution and a number of offices had been leased to other businesses including the architects Young and MacKenzie. The ground floor contained a number of commercial units including, McGee & Co. Tailors, Erskine Mayne a ‘bookseller, lantern and photo specialists’ and at No. 8 Wellington Place, ‘J. Lizars- opticians and dealer in photographic apparatus’ which remains on the site today. During this time it was noted the Belfast Revaluations (1900-02) that the second phase of building was underway with an estimated seventy-five “…spacious offices…in course of construction…”. By the Annual Revisions (1906-15) construction was completed on the second phase; some of the offices were vacant during this period but by 1918 the Street Directories show that almost all were occupied. The building continues to function with cafes, shops and restaurants on the ground floor, and offices and meeting spaces on the floors above. This grand scale Italian Renaissance-style building was constructed by builder Robert Corry, to designs prepared by Robert Young of Young and MacKenzie (DIA). Carvings and sculpture were executed by Purdy and Millard while Ward and Partners created the stained glass in the first floor lobby, which depicts the Scottish coat of arms (DIA). The ornamental sculpture includes detailed carvings of female heads, representing Scotland, Ireland, England, India, Sudan and Canada. The central bay, which bows outward, is also adorned with panels depicting the prevalent industries of the day including shipbuilding, rope making and weaving (Larmour). During the late 20th century the stonework was restored, a projecting central canopy was added over the Donegall Square entrance and some statues were removed from the facade (Brett, Patton). In 2009 the interior underwent extensive refurbishment (HB File). Dixon has commented that, built at the height of the city’s prosperity, this period was characterised by the increasingly grand and ostentatious commercial architecture in Belfast: “The spirit of confidence which brought about the erection of the City Hall can be paralleled in contemporary private projects, especially among those which were built as the City Hall’s immediate neighbours.” (Dixon). References: Primary Sources 1. PRONI OS/6/1/61/2- First Edition OS Map (1832-33) 2. PRONI OS/6/1/61/3- Second Edition OS Map (1858) 3. PRONI OS/6/1/61/4- Third Edition OS Map (1901-2) 4. PRONI OS/6/1/61/6- Fourth Edition OS Map (1931) 5. PRONI VAL/12/B/43/D10- Griffith’s Valuation (1880-96) 6. PRONI VAL/7/B/9/47 – Belfast Revaluations (1900-02) 7. PRONI VAL/12/B/43/C34 - Annual Revisions (1906-15) 8. PRONI VAL/3/B/3/14- First General Revaluation (1935) 9. The Ulster Street Directories (1880-1995) 10. HB File (HB26/50/012) Secondary Sources 1. Larmour, P “Belfast, An Illustrated Architectural Guide” (1987) 2. Brett, C.E.B “The Buildings of Belfast 1700-1914” (1985 Ed) 3. Patton, Marcus “Central Belfast- An Historical Gazetteer” UAHS, Belfast (1993) 4. Dixon, Hugh “An Introduction to Ulster Architecture” UAHS, Belfast (1975) 5. www.dia.ie - Dictionary of Irish Architects online

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style B. Proportion C. Ornamentation D. Plan Form I. Quality and survival of Interior J. Setting

Historic Interest

V. Authorship W. Northern Ireland/International Interest

Evaluation

Symmetrical multi-bay six-storey over basement with attic-storey sandstone Italianate office block, dated 1902, to the designs of Young and Mackenzie. U-shaped on plan with a central pedimented bow and chamfered corner elevations surmounted by octagonal domed pavilions. Retail units to the ground floor and extensively renovated c.2009. One of the most prominent buildings on Donegall Square, this large-scaled Victorian commercial building displays much sculptural stonework to the facade in addition to its copper roof features. The neo-Palladian idiom is loosely interpreted with hints of Baroque and Art Nouveau. Much historic fabric and detailing survives, along with its plan form and it constitutes one of the most impressive late Victorian or early Edwardian structures in the city by local architects of note and representing the commercial development of the city in it later stages.

General Comments

Date of Survey

23 August 2012