Memorial Masonic Hall, Hillsborough Road, Banbridge, Dromore, Co Down, BT25 1AZ

Memorial Masonic Hall, Dromore

A symmetrical three-bay two-storey red-brick Masonic Hall with neo-Georgian detailing, built in 1954–56 and located on the north side of Prince's Street in Dromore town centre. The building was designed by Belfast architects Ferguson & McIlveen and constructed by John Graham Ltd of Dromore at a final cost of £10,704.12 shillings and 7 pence. The hall was erected to unite three Masonic Lodges previously meeting in separate venues: Dromore Masonic Lodge No 70, Star of West Down No 94, and Lagandale Lodge of Freemasons No 521.

The rectangular-plan building features a hipped natural slate roof with rounded ridge tiles and a diminutive copper lantern with ball finial. Cast-iron ogee rainwater goods run beneath timber-sheeted projecting eaves with replacement fascia boards. The walling is stretcher-bonded red-brick on a concrete plinth, with a concrete eaves band, plat-band between floors, and concrete dressings throughout. The principal southeast elevation is symmetrically arranged around a central pedimented portico containing two Tuscan columns and pilaster responds on a concrete plinth wall. The portico frames a replacement six-panelled entrance door with fanlight and sidelights, accessed by three stone steps. Three windows flank the portico on either side at first and ground floor levels. First-floor windows are uPVC replacements set in concrete surrounds with diminished proportions; ground-floor windows are round-headed with tiled heads featuring a central keystone and projecting concrete sills. A concrete roundel at first-floor centre bears a set square and compass carved in relief. Two stone plaques commemorate the foundation stones dated 1955.

The southwest elevation contains two ground-floor windows to the left. The northwest elevation displays seven evenly-spaced small square windows at first-floor level, with five windows of various styles and a single-storey flat-roof extension to the right at ground level. The northeast elevation is blank. A single-storey flat-roof extension extends to the rear.

Foundation stones were ceremonially laid on 21st May 1955 by Sir William Robinson DL JP, Provincial Grand Master of Down, together with the Provincial Grand Secretary R S Cecil Davison JP and Provincial Grand Treasurer Sydney Hanna MBE. The ceremony followed Masonic custom, with corn, wine and oil scattered upon the stones in token of prosperity, cheerfulness and peace. A sealed casket containing the names of officers and brethren of the three Lodges and two Royal Arch Chapters, together with Provincial Officers' names, the Grand Lodge calendar and a copy of the local newspaper The Leader and contemporary coinage, was placed in the foundations. The hall was completed in spring 1956 and dedicated on 7th April 1956 by Sir William Robinson and the officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Down.

The building sits on an elevated site with a lawned frontage and tarmacadamed entrance to a carpark to the southwest. The site is bounded to the road by a mature hedgerow and to the remainder by mature trees and fencing. Red-brick gate piers on a concrete plinth with square caps, supporting original steel gates, mark the entrance. The setting has been compromised somewhat by modern housing developments to the northeast and rear.

The hall remains in use and continues to serve the Masonic Lodges that meet there. Original fenestration has been replaced throughout with uPVC, and fascia boards have been renewed, though the building retains architectural interest as a mid-twentieth-century neo-Georgian interpretation. Samuel McIlveen of the architect partnership was himself a prominent freemason.