Stables Annex, Stormont Castle, Stormont Estate, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, County Antrim, BT4 3XX

Stables Annex, Stormont Castle — former stable ranges, built circa 1858–1860

This is an attached range of single-storey rubblestone former stables built around 1860, arranged in a U-shape around a concrete-paved yard with bitmac driveways to the north and east. The building forms an important component of the Stormont Castle estate and has group value with the other listed structures within the wider Stormont Estate. Although the range has been substantially refurbished, its character has been retained through the use of appropriate materials and detailing. The impressive vaulted west range contributes significantly to its architectural importance.

Architectural Description

The principal crenellated elevation faces east and is four windows wide. Roofs are pitched and covered in natural slate with glazed black clay ridge tiles. Chimneys are red brick with octagonal clay pots. Rainwater goods are cast iron. The external walling is painted in ruled-and-lined lime render over rubblestone, with some areas of exposed rubblestone. Window openings are square-headed throughout, fitted with timber sash windows and painted masonry sills.

The principal east elevation of the east range features an advanced curvilinear gable to the north and a carriage arch to the south. The carriage arch is constructed in vermiculated and voussoired sandstone ashlar, with a crenellated parapet and a central urn. It is framed by a pair of square-plan towers that rise to form octagonal turrets, decorated with roundel panels embellished with horse heads and surmounted by lead-lined onion domes. The gable has a replacement timber casement window, while the main section has 2/2 timber sash windows throughout; all have hood mouldings.

The inner-facing west elevation has depressed and louvred lunettes below the eaves, with various timber sash and timber casement windows. The north elevation of the north range includes a gabled projection added around 2000, and is largely fitted with single-pane timber sash windows alongside some multi-pane timber casement windows. The inner-facing south elevation has some elliptical-headed window openings fitted with multi-pane timber casement windows.

The west elevation of the west range is largely obscured by a modern wing attached to Stormont Castle. Its inner-facing east elevation has exposed rubblestone walling with red brick linings and concrete lintels and sills to the window openings, which are fitted with replacement multi-pane timber casement windows. Depressed and louvred lunette openings sit below eaves level. The southern section of this range is rendered and forms part of Stormont Castle itself.

Historical Background

Stormont Castle was built around 1830 as a gentleman's mansion for the Reverend John Cleland (1755–1834). The contemporary Ordnance Survey Memoirs of around 1830 described Cleland's dwelling as a "large plain house with very little planting around it," and the first edition Ordnance Survey map confirms that neither the stable ranges nor the gothic conservatory had been erected by 1834. A number of smaller outbuildings stood to the north of the mansion before the 1850s but were demolished by 1860.

Following Reverend Cleland's death in 1834, the estate passed to his son Samuel Cleland, who was killed in 1842 while supervising the demolition of a wall in the grounds. His widow, Elizabeth Cleland, then took over the estate and continued to reside there until around 1860. It was Elizabeth Cleland who instigated the redesign of Stormont House: the former Georgian house was refaced in locally quarried Scrabo sandstone, with extensions added to the north and east. The extensions were carried out by Thomas Turner, though the Department of the Environment's Archaeological Survey suggests the courtyard was the work of his father, Richard Turner — the designer of the Palm House at Kew Gardens and the author of an unsuccessful entry for the design of the Crystal Palace in London in 1851.

The second edition Ordnance Survey map of 1860 records that the layout of the outbuildings to the northeast of Stormont Castle had not discernibly changed since the mid-19th century. In 1860–61, the total rateable value of the courtyard was combined with the adjoining mansion and set at £350; the outbuildings were not valued separately until after Stormont Castle was acquired by the newly formed Northern Ireland Government.

Stormont Castle was purchased by the Commissioners of Public Works in 1921 and was used as the official residence of the Northern Ireland Prime Minister, as well as the headquarters of the Cabinet Secretariat and the head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service. The adjoining stable ranges were subsequently converted into a local branch of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. The First General Revaluation of Northern Ireland in 1935 set the value of the police station at £110, noting it was owned by the Ministry of Home Affairs for Northern Ireland. By the end of the Second Revaluation (1956–72), this value had risen to £128. The courtyard continued in use as a police station until at least 1987, when the building was listed together with Stormont Castle and the gothic conservatory.

A Northern Ireland Environment Agency Buildings at Risk record from that period described the outbuildings as "single-storey ranges erected about 1857, forming a square courtyard dominated by a three-stage clock tower which is linked to smaller towers adjacent to the main building. The frontage is constructed of coursed rubble stone while beyond a curved corner and entrance arch the wall surfaces are rendered and painted," noting that "retention of the courtyard is important as an integral part of the original design."

Since the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 and the subsequent St Andrews Agreements of 2006–07, Stormont Castle has served as the offices of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister. The former stable ranges and police station are currently used as office and storage space for Stormont Castle.