Direct Wine Shipments, 5-7 Corporation Square, Belfast, Co Antrim, BT1 3AJ

Direct Wine Shipments, numbers 5-7 Corporation Square, Belfast

A terraced, symmetrical three-storey stucco-fronted building built around 1860, located on the south side of Corporation Square. It represents an important survivor of modest-scale Victorian commercial architecture from Belfast's maritime period and retains much historic fabric and detailing reflecting its changing uses over more than 150 years.

The building is rectangular on plan, facing north, with a three-storey rendered return to the east and an enclosed rear yard. The roof is pitched with corrugated iron covering and a red brick chimneystack to the east. Rainwater goods are cast iron. The front elevation is rendered in painted stucco, as are the remaining elevations.

The symmetrical front elevation is three windows wide and features a central recessed bay with a parapet rising from a stepped cornice. Both breakfronts have moulded quoins and continuous moulded sill courses to the second floor. The ground floor is distinguished by channel rustication with a moulded plinth course. Square-headed window openings with architrave surrounds contain single-pane timber sash windows throughout, except where stated otherwise. The breakfronts feature tripartite window openings with Doric moulded mullions.

The central entrance is a stepped round-headed door opening flanked by a pair of large scrolled console brackets, with replacement timber doors and a plain fanlight above. Two limestone steps lead from the door to the front pavement. The ground floor display windows are modern replacements.

The east side elevation is partially abutted by an adjoining infill building, with returning quoins and mouldings visible. A further square-headed door opening is located to the right, containing a replacement timber panelled door and overlight.

The rear elevation comprises a gable-ended three-storey rendered return with a pitched corrugated iron roof. It contains square-headed window and door openings; replacement windows and doors are present on the east elevation fronting a small paved yard with a steel fire escape. The west side elevation is blank but retains its cornice and quoins returning from the front elevation. A suspended commercial billboard occupies the upper level, with graffiti art on the ground floor.

Historical Development

The building occupies a site developed following the filling-in of Ritchie's Dock in 1848, when the area was renamed Corporation Square after the Corporation for the Preservation of the Port and Harbour of Belfast. The first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1832-3 shows an earlier building on this site.

The current building was constructed around 1860, potentially incorporating early nineteenth-century fabric from earlier structures. It is likely that James Lemon, a ship owner, chandler, and rope and canvas manufacturer with a factory in Ballymacarrett, rebuilt or remodelled the premises at this date. Griffith's Valuation of 1856-64 lists the property as a warehouse, rope and ship stores with a yard, office and shop on the ground floor, two rooms on the first floor, and a sail loft in the attic, valued at £150. The top storey was added or replaced in 1911 according to valuer's notes.

From 1852 Mrs Nugent operated a boarding house for sailors here. From 1855 James Lemon occupied the premises as a ship owner and chandler. By the late 1870s Lemon had taken into partnership Morrow, and the business was being run as Morrow, Miskelly & Co by 1887. Number 7 became the premises of Doran & Co distillers in the 1890s. The building subsequently housed Ekin, Robertson and Peacock, wholesale seed merchants (by 1920), followed by various light industries including clothing and upholstery, reflecting the decline of shipping in the area. In the 1980s it returned to use as a wine store, and today it remains occupied by a wine shipping company.

The building stands on the south side of Corporation Square, with the M3 motorway flyover curving along the rear site. Access to the internal yard is via a side street. It is located within a conservation area.