Protestant Hall, 19 Railway Street, Antrim, BT41 4AE

Protestant Hall

A mid-Victorian hall of local stone with yellow brick details, built in 1868 as a meeting place for the Antrim Young Men's United Protestant Association. The building retains a number of its original exterior features and remains of local interest and social importance.

The structure comprises a tall double-storey gabled hall with a single-storey entrance block projecting across its front and a two-storey block to one side, all constructed in black basalt with yellow brick dressings. The main entrance faces east.

East Elevation

The composition is symmetrical, formed by the main gabled hall set back together with the single-storey range projecting at ground floor level. The walling is coursed basalt rubble with granite quoins to the extremities, though the precise stone used is uncertain. The main gable has a yellow brick corbel course with shaped sandstone or granite kneelers and sandstone or granite coping, topped by an ornamented ironwork finial. Two yellow brick chimneys with moulded brick cornices and stub pots sit one to each roof pitch. A large ocular panel occupies the first floor of the gable, set in a moulded yellow brick surround with a large sandstone keystone inscribed '1868'.

The single-storey entrance block is of three bays. The central opening is an elliptically arched entrance with chamfered reveals and brick block surrounds. Flanking it on each side are coupled semi-circular arched windows set in similar surrounds. The windows to the right of the entrance are arched timber sliding sash, vertically hung 1 over 1 with horns; those to the left are later modern PVC fixed lights with top-hung opening lights. A moulded brick cornice runs across the block.

The two-storey block to the right-hand end stands in the same plane as the entrance block. It is two bays with a front gable, constructed in the same materials as the main hall including quoins to the extremities. A moulded stringcourse runs across at a height one course higher than the adjacent stringcourse. A small rectangular panel sits in the apex of the gable, set in chamfered brick reveals with a moulded brick drip over. Two first-floor windows are segmental arched timber mullioned and transomed, set in brick block surrounds with brick drip moulding, sandstone keystones, and projecting sandstone cills on moulded brick corbel courses. One similar window occupies the ground floor to the left, with a steel-sheeted doorway to the right.

South Elevation

The south side of the two-storey block is roofed in Bangor blue slates in regular courses, with walling as previously described and a modern rectangular PVC window. The south elevation of the main gabled hall is abutted by a lower building; it is roofed in slate and constructed of basalt rubble.

Rear Elevation

The rear of the main gabled hall is of roughly coursed basalt with red brick block quoins and dressings to openings. Three ground-floor openings are flat arched and boarded over with corrugated asbestos. One first-floor opening contains a rectangular timber sashed window 1 over 1, and one smaller opening has a concrete lintel with timber fixed lights. To the left is a lower flat-roofed block with smooth cement render, lined and blocked, and a further concrete blockwork extension beyond.

The rear elevation of the two-storey block, within a yard, is of similar materials: the ground-floor window opening is partly blocked, containing a later modern timber fixed light and top-hung vent, whilst the first-floor doorway contains a modern rectangular metal-framed doorway leading to a fire escape stair. A single-storey lean-to brick and basalt block of crude construction projects from the left-hand side of the ground floor.

North Elevation

The two-storey block has a slate roof as previously described, with walling of roughly coursed basalt rubble with red brick dressings; the right-hand end has red brick quoins to the extremity, whilst the left-hand end has wet dash render with granite quoins at the top, accompanied by a panel of brickwork. Two ground-floor windows are later fixed lights with top-hung vents. Two first-floor windows are rectangular timber sliding sash 2 over 2 without horns. A cast-iron gutter with PVC downpipe runs along this elevation.

The north elevation of the main gabled hall is roofed in slate and walled in roughly coursed basalt rubble with a red brick eaves course and red brick block dressings to openings and similar quoins to the right-hand extremity. Windows are tall timber segmental arched sliding sash 2 over 2 with horns; the second from the left has a later doorway below it containing modern flush doors with a concrete lintel. A later single-storey flat-roofed extension with smooth cement rendered walls projects from the ground floor, fitted with modern metal-framed windows.

Setting and Current Use

The building stands directly facing the main street with properties of no special interest adjacent. To the north is a small enclosed yard approached by a timber gate in a brick and concrete block wall. To the rear is a large service yard for a modern shopping mall, separately owned and not accessed from these premises. The building now functions as a shop and is situated within a conservation area.