Anderson Memorial Hall, Craigarusky Road, Balloo, Killinchy, Co Down, BT23 [?6QS]

Anderson Memorial Hall, Craigarusky Road, Balloo, Killinchy, County Down

A large gabled hall built in 1898, constructed primarily through the efforts of Reverend William Smyth. The hall stands in a hollow on the north-west side of Craigarusky Road near Balloo hamlet, positioned somewhat clumsily next to Killinchy Presbyterian Church to the east, and has been noted as adversely affecting the church's setting due to its size and awkward positioning.

The eastern front facade features a central doorway with panelled double doors approached by two curved steps. Above the doors is a pointed arch fanlight with tracery. The doorway is set within a chamfered recess and has a drip moulding above with label stops. To the left of the doorway is a pointed arch window with a cill on brackets and drip moulding, featuring fine glazing bars and tracery. A similar window stands to the right of the doorway. Above the doorway is an inscribed panel with moulding above it, and above that is a roundel window also with moulding.

The south facade displays five pointed arch windows identical to those on the front, with an inscribed dedication panel positioned between the third and fourth windows. The western gable has a similar arrangement to the front but without the doorway, inscribed panel, moulding above the windows, or brackets to the cills. The original northern facade retains one pointed arch window to the left of a large two-storey gabled extension added around 1974 to 1975, which has a thoroughly modern appearance with irregularly spaced windows of various shapes and sizes.

The building is finished in lined render and painted throughout, with a chamfered plinth to the original section. The south facade retains a dentilled eaves course. Both the main and extension roofs are covered with Bangor blue slates. The main roof features stone parapets with ball finials and decorative end brackets, topped with red clay ridge tiles.

The south facade inscription states that the hall was "Erected to the memory of James McCann, Carrigullin. Born 1817. Died 1881. For many years a teacher in this Sabbath school. Also his beloved wife Margaret McCann (nee Farrell). Born 1820. Died 1875." The name "Anderson Memorial Hall" refers to Reverend David Anderson, a former minister of Killinchy who died in 1871. The hall appears to have replaced an earlier building on or near this site, shown on Ordnance Survey maps of 1834 and 1859 to 1860, which presumably housed the Sabbath school previously. Reverend William Smyth was also responsible for constructing the boundary wall and a new manse.

The church stands immediately to the east, with the graveyard to the south.