McGarel Buildings, The Roddens, Larne, Co Antrim

McGarel Buildings, also known as The Roddens, were a set of ten alms houses built in the High Victorian Gothic style between 1860 and 1879. They were erected by Charles McGarel, a local landowner, and designed by the architect Samuel P. Close. The buildings were constructed of snecked rubble sandstone with light stone dressings and a slated roof. A central feature included a turreted tower with a steep pyramidal roof, flanked by corbie-stepped gables. The main entrance was recessed in a two-centred arched opening, flanked by attached slate columns with foliated caps. The ends of the front elevation were terminated by corbie-stepped gables containing single-storey bay windows. Four additional entrances were recessed in two-centre arched openings with hood moulds and label stops. Windows featured sashes divided into two panes with horizontal glazing bars, and had roll mouldings at the head, with segmental relieving arches over the ground floor windows. The rear elevation was of brick. An inscription was recorded on the building in 1970. The buildings were demolished in the 1970s and replaced by a day centre and an old people's home, later named Gloucester Park Day Centre and Lis-Garel Old People’s Home. Photographs of the buildings are held in the collection of the Larne Historical Society. An engraved view of the buildings appeared in Industries of the North one hundred years ago.