Cellular Health Care Centre, Zone F2, The former Maze Prison, Halftown Road, Lisburn, BT27

Cellular Health Care Centre, The Maze Prison, Lisburn

This single-storey health care facility was built circa 1975-1977 as the original hospital serving the Maze Cellular Prison. It is a Grade B1 listed building.

The building exemplifies the construction methods and architectural forms characteristic of the Maze Cellular. Its simple plan follows the principles seen in the H Blocks, with a central circular core and projecting wings to north and south. The structure is constructed in grey brick and concrete with a flat roof surmounted by a brick-enclosed water tank, aligned on a north-south axis. The main entrance is offset to the east elevation, with three projecting bays extending north and south beyond it to form the rectangular wings. External elevations are irregularly fenestrated, with windows fitted with internal concrete grilles matching those in the H Blocks. Domed skylights illuminate a central internal corridor. External doors are fitted with steel grille security gates, with an additional external door in the south elevation providing access to an exercise yard.

The building occupies its own fenced compound within the administrative zone of the prison, surrounded by tarmac hard-standing with fencing positioned approximately 5-10 metres from the building on all sides. The fencing comprises galvanised corrugated steel sheeting over welded mesh with razor wire at the top and security lamps fitted to posts. Access to the compound is via a vehicle air lock to the north-east, entered from the Cellular Administration Block compound. The western area of the compound was subdivided to create an exercise yard.

The hospital demonstrates the high-security nature of the facility through its comprehensive on-site medical capabilities and elevated security provisions, including the fenced air lock vehicle entrance. The building is historically significant due to its role during the hunger strike protest, during which several prisoners died. Although originally referred to as the HCC (Health Care Centre), the hospital became less intensively used toward the end of the prison's operation as the majority of medical services were transferred to the H Blocks and Short Term Unit. The building shows little sign of later modification since its construction.