Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB03/08/007

Address :
Town Hall The Crescent Portstewart BT55 7AB

Townland:
North Mullaghacall

---

Survey 2:
B2

Date of Listing:
03/04/1992 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Library

Former Use
Town Hall

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
No

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

---

OS Map No:
5-16SW

IG Ref:
C8167 3810

---

Owner Category

Exterior Description And Setting

A symmetrical two-storey Modernist town hall with blind attic in red-brick with concrete dressings; built 1934 to designs by Benjamin Cowser and located at the junction of The Crescent and The Promenade in Portstewart town centre. Rectangular plan with recessed end bays, two-storey and single-storey extension (later) to rear. Red Roman tiled hipped roof with rounded ridge tiles and leaded verges; concrete pinnacle on a square base to centre of ridgeline. Plastic rainwater goods on projecting eaves. Walling is stretcher-bonded red-brick with heavy concrete frieze; frieze has classical motif in relief; continuous sill course to ground floor and smooth rendered fascia at northwest elevation. Windows are replacement timber casements; narrower with cast concrete architraves to first floor; chamfered concrete sills to ground floor windows. Northwest facing the symmetrical facade has a horizontal emphasis, comprising five elongated closely spaced windows at first floor, seven evenly and more widely spaced openings at ground floor, divided by a smooth rendered painted fascia and with central entrance door. Narrow window openings to each floor at far left and right. Fascia has decorative lugged base and painted lettering reading “PORTSTEWART TOWN HALL”. Recessed double-leaf three-panelled mahogany door in Modernist style with slender curved metal pull handle; surmounted by transom light and in a large cast concrete architrave. To right is a modern glazed door with transom light, replacing original window opening. Entrances are accessed via concrete steps with ramped access at left. Recessed end bays are one narrow window wide at each floor. The northeast elevation is accessed at first floor level at The Promenade via a ramp; dominated by entrance opening comprising double-panelled timber doors (as a principal elevation) flanked by timber side-panels all in a moulded concrete architrave; diminutive windows to left and right at first floor and attic with rebated brick patterns between floors; modern timber door to ground floor right. Inscribed concrete plaque above entrance reads “PORTSTEWART/ TOWN HALL/ ERECTED 1934/ RENOVATED 1973”. The southeast (rear) elevation is abutted to centre by the two-storey extension (lower), housing public toilets accessed via a walkway from The Promenade. Variety of irregularly arranged replacement timber casement windows to right of return; single-storey red-brick extension in similar style to left of return. Walkway has a raised red brick base, enclosed by red brick walls with lattice concrete blocks and coping. The southwest elevation has window to mid-level at left; three closely grouped windows to ground floor centre; left cheek has window at first floor; right cheek is concealed; window at mid-level to left bay. Setting: Prominently situated at the junction of The Crescent and The Promenade, Portstewart Town Hall is sited overlooking the sea-front. Situated adjacent to St Mary’s Star of the Sea Church (HB03/08/002). Low red-brick boundary walls with concrete coping; simple red-brick square piers with concrete caps to entrances at northwest. Lawned to front with concrete flagstones to pathways. Roof: Red roman tiles Walling: Stretcher-bonded red brick Windows: Replacement timber casements RWG: uPVC

Architects

Cowser, Benjamin

Historical Information

The Town Hall, Portstewart was built in 1934/5 to designs by Benjamin Cowser, the winner of a competition in which Cowser’s future partner and his working colleague came second and third respectively. Cowser was largely a domestic architect but also designed a bank in Belfast and a Masonic Hall in Enniskillen. In later life he enjoyed a brief career as an artist. (www.dia.ie) The building is first shown on the fifth edition OS map of 1939-50. Work on the Town Hall was in progress in 1934 and the contractor was F B McKee & Co. The building was officially opened on 30th May 1935 by Lady Craigavon, the wife of the Prime Minister of the time. A luncheon for one hundred guests was held in the hall after the opening. (Irish Times 31st May 1935) The building cost £8000 and was constructed on a site purchased for £1,000 in 1933. The cost of the public lavatories (of 1d in the slot type) was estimated to be £1,000 and the public shelter of brick wood, glass and concrete was built for £200 and presented to the town. (Valuation Records) The building entered valuation records in 1936 at valuation of £180. The public lavatory (still present) and a shelter adjoining it were exempted. When it was first built the Hall comprised on the ground floor, a reading room, minor hall, council room, town clerk’s offices (public and private), surveyor’s office, electrical manager’s office, three store rooms, heating chamber, strong room and three lavatories. On the first floor were the concert hall, balcony, stage, two lavatories for the concert hall, a box office, tank room, two dressing rooms with WC, a kitchen and caretaker’s living room, two bedrooms, kitchen and bathroom. The Hall could accommodate 380 people, 134 in the balcony and 246 in the body of the hall. The hall was let out to concert parties for the summer season of 1935 at £75 and was used for dances in the winter. The valuer commented that, ‘The building is thoroughly modern and is probably one of the best of its kind in Northern Ireland...The building has been designed and completed to meet the requirements of the town 50 years hence. It is much too large for Portstewart today. The greater portion of the rooms are not in use at all nor will be needed for many years to come.” (Valuation records) By the early 1970s the library was housed, as today, in part of the ground floor of the Hall (Girvan) and in 1973 the Hall underwent a major renovation. The building was listed in 1991 and in 2000 was again renovated. The former balcony to the front facade was removed and replaced with a plain fascia. The spire was also replaced, as were the windows and main entrance doors. (HB file) References: Primary Sources 1. PRONI OS/6/5/3/5 Fifth Edition OS Map 1939-50 2. PRONI VAL/3/C/6/18 First General Revaluation 1933-57 3. PRONI VAL/3/D/6/8/A/6 First General Revaluation 1933-57 4. Irish Builder Vol 75 1st July 1933, p542 5. Irish Builder Vol 75 18th November 1933 p537 6. Irish Builder Vol 77 18th May 1935, p400 7. Irish Builder Vol 78 22nd August 1936, p.732 8. Irish Times 31st May 1935 9. HB file – 03/08/007 Secondary Sources 1. Girvan, W D “Historic Buildings, Groups of Buildings, Areas of Architectural Importance in Coleraine and Portstewart” Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1971-2 2. McDonald, T and Anderson, R “Memories in Focus: NE Ulster from old photographs 1850-1950 Volumes 1 to 4” 1981-83 3. www.dia.ie

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

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

Historic Interest

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

Evaluation

Portstewart Town Hall is a symmetrical two-storey-with-attic Modernist town hall in red-brick with concrete dressings; built 1934 to designs by Benjamin Cowser and prominently sited at the junction of The Crescent and The Promenade in Portstewart town centre. A confident interpretation of the Modernist style by a local architect, with a strong geometric emphasis typically associated with the Modernist movement. Recently refurbished with some alterations and replacement fabric, the integrity of the original design is largely intact. A landmark building and one of significant local interest and social importance, Portstewart Town Hall is of quality and character and is one of the most distinctive buildings of the 1930s to survive in the district.

General Comments

Listing Criteria R - Age; S - Authenticity and T - Historic Importance also apply.

Date of Survey

25 April 2012