Hillsborough Police Station

An asymmetrical two-storey police barracks with incorporated sergeants quarters and associated telephone exchange, located on Lisburn Road, north of Hillsborough village, formerly the main route between Belfast and Dublin. Built 1936 to designs by Department of Finance architect, TFO Rippingham. L-shaped plan with sergeant's quarters located in the return. Hipped Rosemary tiled roof with two rustic brick chimneystacks and original iron rooflights to rear; original profile cast iron gutters with plastic downpipes on heavily projecting timber-sheeted eaves. Walling is rustic brick throughout. Windows are original horned timber sash, 8/8 at first floor, 8/12 at ground floor, all with internal security glazing (variety of configurations to rear). First floor window heads are at eaves levels, and have a continuous reconstituted stone profiled cill course, advancing over ground floor projection which contains the entrance porch. Ground floor windows have soldier brick lintels, slightly recessed, and openings to projection are set within semi-circular recesses with advanced brick imposts. Principal elevation faces W and has seven regularly spaced openings to each floor. Ground floor has an advanced projection to left of centre, containing an arcade of three openings including central recessed porch. Porch cheeks are each lit by a small three light window; the original panelled entrance door has brass door furniture and a fixed panel to left side. North elevation has a single window at ground floor. Rear (east) elevation is abutted at far left by the sergeant's wing, and is lit by several irregularly spaced openings to each floor, including a tall 9/9 stairwell window; ammunition unloading bay abuts to right side. N elevation of sergeant's wing is similar, with E end lit by windows to each floor and opening onto a small enclosed yard. Long S elevation has four unequally spaced windows to first floor, and entrance door to right of centre having two windows to right and four to left. The telephone exchange is single-cell single storey building located immediately to north of the station. It is similarly detailed with steep hipped roof. It is plainly detailed with a door to left and a series of seven security windows with heads at eaves level, divided by dropped brick projections. There is a small later outshot to east side and a window at west flanking two infilled windows. Setting: Area to front landscaped with low hedges, with parking to front and rear. Mature trees and steel security fencing surrounds the site. The rear yard is bounded at east by a series of redbrick stores.