Administration and drawing office block (Harland & Wolff), Queens Road, Belfast, BT3 9DV, Co Down

This long, somewhat Mannerist three-storey office block in sandstone and brick was built in stages between circa 1885 and circa 1912 as the administration and drawing office for Harland & Wolff shipyard. The building stands within the shipyard complex on the north-west side of the south-west end of Queen's Road, with the main works buildings to the south-east and the site of a former slipway (from where the Titanic was launched) to the north-west. To the south-west lie the Abercorn Basin and the Hamilton dry dock.

Plan and Structure

The building is generally U-shaped in plan, comprising a long three-storey front wing with three-storey end returns. Set between the returns are two tall single-storey drawing offices, giving the entire building a roughly E-shaped plan. These drawing offices appear to be the oldest sections of the structure and were probably fronted by an original entrance block which was cleared away when the present entrance block was erected.

Front (South-East) Elevation

At first glance the main three-storey block appears to possess a relatively uniform front elevation. However, closer inspection reveals that the block is composed of four main sections built at various dates, but given a semblance of unity by the fact that all are of the same height, topped with a balustraded parapet and (from a distance) appear to be built of the same material.

The largest section, which contains the main entrance, is positioned to the centre and left. It is faced in red sandstone (Dumfriesshire-like). To the immediate left and immediate right of this are much smaller sections, both mainly identical and faced in brick. To the far right is another sandstone section in the same style as the entrance section but much smaller.

Main Entrance Section

The actual main entrance is positioned right of centre on the ground floor of the entrance section. It consists of a broad panelled timber double door encased with polished granite panelled pilasters and a sandstone pediment with broken entablature supported on curved and fluted brackets. Directly above the door is an elliptical fanlight with plain glazing. Beneath the entablature is a moulded keystone with flanking spandrel panels.

To the left of the doorway are four pairs of sash windows with segmental arch heads and moulded keystones. These windows rest on a polished granite sill course, and below this the sandstone is rock-faced (as opposed to the rest which is dressed). To the left of these windows is a broad flat-arched vehicle gateway with the remains (the side pedestrian gates and piers) of a decorative iron gate screen. The remaining piers have decorative panels and concave pyramidal caps. The pier to the right is topped with the remains of an iron light fitting, but that to the left pier is now missing. To the right of the main entrance are two pairs of windows as left.

To the first and second floors of the entrance section there are nine pairs of flat-arch sash windows, with those to the second floor considerably shorter. These windows rest on a moulded sill course and are separated by plain pilasters. Between the ground and first floor there is a string course. The façade is topped with a dentilled cornice and the balustraded parapet.

Brick Sections and Far Right Section

To the left and to the right of the entrance section are the two smaller brick-built portions. These have four sash windows to each floor, with those to the second floor much shorter. Between each floor is a moulded sandstone course and to the ground floor the brick is arranged as rustication, with rock-faced sandstone below ground floor window level. Both portions are topped with a plain cornice and balustraded parapet as before.

The section to the far right repeats the style of the entrance section but with five pairs of windows to each floor. A single-storey section stretches from the right (north-east) of the section to the far right, linking to a more modern (circa 1950) building to the north-east. The front façade of this single-storey portion carries on the detail of the ground floor of its three-storey neighbour to the left.

Short South-West Elevation

The short south-west elevation repeats the styling of the brick-built portions described above, but with a much greater amount of openings to each floor. These openings are almost exclusively windows with mid-20th-century-looking three-pane frames, but two former windows (second from left on first and second floors) have been made into doors which serve a large modern fire escape. To the far right on the ground floor there stretches a small single-storey wing with a flat roof. This in turn links to a long, low, one-and-a-half to two-storey brick-built building of circa 1910, with a line of large segmental-headed windows to the front.

Short North-East Elevation

The short north-east elevation repeats the styling of the previously described sandstone-faced blocks, but with flat-arch windows to the ground floor. To the left on the ground floor stretches the single-storey wing which links to the circa 1950 block (see above). To the left on the first floor a modern-style glazed link has been inserted (which also stretches to the circa 1950 building).

Rear Elevation

The rear elevation is made up of two three-storey end returns with the two lower gabled drawing office projections between.

North-East Return

The north-west façade of the north-east return largely repeats the arrangement of the north-east elevation, but is in brick rather than sandstone. To the south-west this return projects to the left-hand side, where it is abutted at ground and first floor level by one of the drawing offices (referred to as 'drawing office B' in the interior description). To the right of this projection (in an area which is completely enclosed by the drawing office), there used to be a single-storey design office, but this has been demolished and the site is now open. The second floor of the south-west façade of the return has a row of windows largely as before.

Drawing Office B (North-East Drawing Office)

The north-west-facing gable of the drawing office to the left (north-east) has been rendered in relatively recent times, and it looks as though this render has obscured the original fineness of detail of the courses. To the ground floor there is a sheeted door with fanlight to the left, with six windows (with mid-20th-century-looking frames) to the right of this. The windows are separated by simple pilaster piers and rest on a sill course. To the upper level are five semicircular-headed windows set within three large shallow recesses. The three centre windows (which share a recess) are much taller than the outer two. There is a roundel recess near the gable apex.

The south-west façade of the drawing office is now exposed, but originally there was a lower gabled section (the secretaries' office) attached to this side, which spanned between this drawing office and that to the south-west (drawing office A). The exposed south-west façade of the left-hand drawing office is blank, and is topped with a portion of the roof which has been carried further on this side in mansard fashion (this was obviously carried out after the adjoining section was demolished).

Drawing Office A (South-West Drawing Office)

The drawing office to the south-west largely repeats the styling of its near neighbour, but is exposed to both north-east and south-west sides (both of which are blank) and does not possess a doorway to the ground floor of its gable.

Main Block Rear Façade

The exposed upper portions of the rear façade of the main front block, above and between the drawing offices, is in painted brick and possesses an informal collection of small (mainly sash) windows. Just above the intersection of the north-east drawing office and this façade, there is a small section of smooth rendered façade with the incongruous remains of a cornice. This may be a portion of the original entrance building which fronted the drawing offices.

South-West Return

To the right of the south-west drawing office, the rear façade of the main block and the north-east and north-west facades of the south-west return are of brick construction and largely plain in appearance, having rows of largely identical windows to each floor, all much the same as the short south-west façade.

Roof and Rainwater Goods

The roof of the main section of the building is hipped and slated. Cast iron rainwater goods.

Historical Context

To the north to north-west of this building is a large open space which was the site of a former slipway. The ill-fated Titanic was launched from this slipway in May 1911.