Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB20/08/019

Address :
Former Methodist Church 41 Church Street Antrim BT41 4AY

Townland:
Town Parks

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Survey 2:
B2

Date of Listing:
10/12/1974 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Library

Former Use
Church

Conservation Area:
Yes

Industrial Archaeology:
No

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
96-13 SE

IG Ref:
J1505 8660

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Owner Category

Commercial Public Body

Exterior Description And Setting

A gabled building partly rendered and partly of rubble stonework, of rectangular plan with a projecting gabled porch originally built as a Methodist Church in a plain Gothic style, but later changed to a library. Main entrance faces south. South elevation: main gable is 3-bay, with a Gothic arched window to each side of the central porch and a circular rose window above the porch. Walling is of smooth cement render, painted, with a projecting plinth, plain projecting gable copings, and a tall gable finial in the form of a square column with moulded base and foliated capital surmounted by a pyramidal cap. Lower windows are Gothic arched lancets set in moulded surrounds with moulded drips; currently boarded up. Circular rose window originally contained tracery of multi-circled pattern; circular drip moulding over upper circumference of rose extending horizontally at sides to terminate in foliated stops; lower circumference of rose has raised block surrounds. Above rose is a rectangular datestone inscribed '1867', with a small blind oculus above that in the apex surmounted by a semi-circular moulded drip with foliated stops. Porch gable is rendered as main gable, with similar plinth and copings; Gothic arched doorway containing a pair of rectangular timber vertically boarded doors surmounted by a similarly boarded tympanum; doorway approached by a concrete ramp and two steps up to concrete paved doorstep. West elevation: single storey, 4-bay side wall; roof of Bangor blue slates in regular courses; pvc gutter and downpipe. Walling is of random rubble basalt built to courses with red brick dressings to windows; shaped yellow brick dressing to plinth. Windows are two-centred arched with timber fames, currently not yet glazed. Rear elevation: comprises main rear gable of roughly coursed basalt rubble with a small red brick dressed ocular opening to the apex, containing louvers; projecting at ground level is a later single storey addition with lean-to slated roof, wet dash rendered walls; concrete steps on west side lead up to a rectangular doorway now boarded up; north face contains three windows, with one sashed window, 1 over 1 with horns, and two modern fixed light windows; cast iron rainwater goods in damaged condition. East elevation: similar roofing and walling to west side, but windows contain 2 horizontal divisions in timber, not yet glazed. SETTING: The building stands facing the main road but set well back from it. Front area comprises a tarmac driveway leading to the front of the building flanked each side by grass verges. Front boundary formed by a plain gatescreen; boundary to east formed by a basalt rubble wall with concrete copings; boundary to east formed partly by neighbouring buildings and partly by a basalt rubble wall. To the rear is a small unkempt garden; to the west is a rear tarmac car park.

Architects

Not Known

Historical Information

Built in 1867 as a Methodist Chapel to replace one built in 1805 on the same site. Converted to a public library some time after 1970. References – Primary Sources 1. Datestone of 1867 on building. Secondary Sources 1. UAHS, Antrim and Ballymena (Belfast, 1969), p 6. 2. J. Hanna, Old Antrim (Catrine, Ayrshire, 2002), p 14 (shows rear extension with gabled roof, not lean-to).

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 J. Setting

Historic Interest

X. Local Interest Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance

Evaluation

This former Methodist church, of mid-Victorian date retains most of its original features and is of definite architectural and historic interest.

General Comments

Date of Survey

20 November 2004