Linen Hall Library, 17 Donegall Square North, Belfast, County Antrim, BT1 5GP

A corner-sited three-storey former linen warehouse originally constructed 1864 by Lanyon Lynn & Lanyon on the N side of Donegall Square, converted in 1891 to house the Linen Hall Library constructed of grey brick with hipped slate roof with leaded hips and ridges. The south elevation is five windows wide and three stories high of light grey brick laid in Flemish bond, with string course and ornamental brickwork in relief above first floor and five courses of corbelled brickwork to form eaves. At ground floor, the recessed entrance to the library with its linen swags and red hand of Ulster is in the middle of the elevation, set in a porch with plain Doric pilasters on tall bases supporting pediment and fretted balustrade. On either side of the entrance are modern shopfronts. At first floor, the windows are tall plain sashes with fixed top lights containing stained glass, set under pediments. Second floor windows are plain sashes with segmental heads and keystones, and all windows have moulded architraves. The west elevation is linked to the front elevation by a chamfered bay; this elevation is seven bays long, with similar proportions to the front elevation but without architraves, keystones, pediments or string course detailing. At the N end a former gap has been filled with a recent glass link block, and the first and second floors of the adjoining 48-50 Fountain Street (HB26/50/273) now leased by and part of the library. North and east elevations are abutted by adjoining buildings. Setting The Library is one of the 19th and early 20th century buildings round Donegall Square. It occupies a prominent corner location and is amongst the earliest surviving buildings in the vicinity. External walls: brick Roof: Natural slate Windows: timber Rainwater goods: cast iron