Town Hall, Bank Parade, Newry, Co Down, BT35 6HP

Newry Town Hall is a two-storey building in red brick with granite dressings, erected in 1893–94 to designs by William Batt of Belfast. It occupies a uniquely prominent position in the town, having been built directly over the Armaghdown Bridge spanning the Newry River, straddling the boundary between two counties to symbolise the unification of those counties within the newly created municipality. The steps and railings fronting the building are included in the listing. The building sits within a conservation area.

ARCHITECTURAL OVERVIEW

The main block has a hipped natural slate roof with terracotta ridge tiles and finials, and various chimneys rising from the side and rear walls. The building is notable for the richness of its granite detailing to the portico, pediment and window reveals, set against otherwise plain brickwork.

FRONT (NORTH) ELEVATION

The principal façade is a three-bay symmetrical block with a lower one-bay wing to either side, all raised over a projecting ashlar granite base course. A metal railing on a finely dressed chamfered granite base runs across the front, returning either side of a square ashlar pier at each side of two granite steps — now covered by modern granite side ramps and a projecting plinth — which lead up to a central entrance porch. This porch comprises a pair of Doric columns on low bases supporting an entablature whose blocking course carries a square-based ball finial at each end and is inscribed "Town Hall". Above it is a granite cartouche bearing the town's coat of arms (a seated bishop between yew trees), surmounted by a segmental broken pediment. The porch is entirely of finely dressed grey granite except for the columns themselves, which are of polished brown granite. The entrance opening has an imposted semicircular head with a projecting keystone and panel detailing to the sides. Behind the entrance are two ornate wrought-iron gates rising to impost level with a fixed metal grille in the arch above.

The two bays flanking the entrance are identical to each other and project slightly forward. Each has three moulded granite platbands running across the ground floor: at window cill level, above the window lintel, and at the base of the storey above. The edges of both projections are trimmed with stepped granite quoins with scrolled steps to the outer edge just above the middle platband. The window opening is set within a recessed panel with stepped granite block quoins and an imposted semicircular head with finely dressed granite voussoirs. The window itself is a top-opening 3/3 timber sash with granite cill and lintel; the space between the lintel and the arched head is infilled in brick. Immediately above the porch pediment at first-floor level is a Venetian window, the platband across the top of the ground storey forming its cill and with a small acroterion at each side of the head. The bays at either side of the projecting central section are edged with terracotta and have Corinthian-headed corner pilasters rising to parapet level. Each side bay has a recessed semicircular-headed window opening trimmed with footed, imposted and keystoned granite edging; the window itself is a 1/2 timber-framed sash. Above each opening is a decorative terracotta panel set into the wall. Two shallow platbands of plain brick and a third of moulded brick run across the three bays above the heads of the pilasters. The wall terminates in an ashlar granite cornice, below which are three courses of brick specials — a dentil course topped by egg-and-dart and ball-flower moulded bricks. A brickwork attic storey rises over the central bay, containing at its centre a clock set within a granite panel flanked by small terracotta Corinthian-headed brick pilasters and narrow semicircular-headed louvred openings. A cornice identical to that on the main wall runs above and is surmounted by a granite pediment whose apex carries an acroterion with an anthemion motif. There are two shell-moulded acroterions to the pediment ends. The tympanum bears a terracotta panel inscribed "1893" in brickwork infill with a three-course cornice below. A brick and granite balustrade surmounts the two side bays: square-profile granite balusters are separated by brick piers and finished with a moulded granite top rail, with granite urn finials to the corner piers.

On each side of and set back from the main façade are the lower one-bay wings, also in brick with granite trim. The three platbands from the adjoining bays continue across and divide each wing into three sections. The bottom two sections have V-jointed granite quoins (not stepped). The ground-floor section contains a top-opening 1/2 window set within a stepped granite opening with a stop-end chamfered lintel. The middle section has a single-pane window in a circular opening with a granite surround, keystone and a stopped hood mould. The top sections of the two wings differ: the left-hand wing's top section is a later addition in plain brick, with a granite acroterion — probably salvaged from the original parapet — at the outer end of its moulded granite coping. The right-hand wing's top section is set back slightly from a brick parapet (coped in granite with an acroterion at the end) over the floor below, and contains a 1/2 casement window in an opening trimmed with stepped granite and a stop-end chamfered lintel, set within a panel defined by brick piers on either side. Across the top of this section is a brick parapet with a concrete coping and granite acroterion at the top outer corner.

LEFT (THE MALL) ELEVATION

This elevation is finished at the right-hand side by the wing described above and, to the left of centre, by a two/three-storey extension, with the gable of a rear extension at the extreme left. Of the main three-bay block, only a small section in the middle and the upper floor is now visible. At ground-floor level in the middle is a large canted bay window in brick over a chamfered granite base course, with a metal railing on a granite plinth in front and a ramp to form a disabled entrance. Its window openings share a common moulded granite cill course and have post-and-lintel surrounds in granite with chamfered edges. The central cant contains a 2/2 window with two 1/1 flanking windows, all top-opening; the cheeks have slightly wider 1/1 top-opening windows. A brick parapet with a moulded granite coping and small pediment over the middle window runs across the top of the bay. At first-floor level are three pairs of windows lighting the main hall; the pair at the right is partially obscured by the later addition, with only the heads now visible. The unobstructed windows have a continuous moulded granite cill with raised brick aprons. The openings have raised semicircular heads with fluted keystones and chamfered edges. A decorative terracotta platband runs across at arch-spring level, forming an impost at each opening, with a moulded brick platband just below. Above and between each set of windows is a circular window with a raised brick reveal and keystone. A continuous dentilled platband runs along the wall at parapet level, rising over each roundel. The brick parapet above has a moulded brick coping and brick panels edged with moulded brick. A stepped brick bellcote — with a moulded granite capping but missing its bell — rises at the left of this parapet, with a granite-capped brick chimney to its right. At the extreme right of this wall the head of a seventh window, trimmed in granite and apparently of similar design to those at first-floor-front level, protrudes above the later addition; directly above it and to each side is a terracotta panel with a floral design. Above these is a continuation of the three-course brick special cornice from the front façade, finished with a granite string and the balustraded parapet. This window is also flanked by Corinthian-headed pilasters (capitals in terracotta), the left-hand one rising to a granite-capped chimney which also forms the terminal pier to the balustraded parapet.

The right section of this elevation is taken up by the front façade's left wing. Its brick walls rise from a chamfered ashlar granite base course; the frontal platbands continue around this elevation. The granite quoins at the left are stepped, with a scrolled kneeler above the middle platband. At the left, two granite steps lead up to a timber door with eight fielded panels, to the left of which is a 1/2 casement window with a fielded granite panel below; both door and window are set within a granite panel flanked by stepped granite pilasters under a pedimented entablature. To the right of the entrance is a pair of 2/1 casement windows, both with metal grilles over and with trim detail and platband cill identical to the front window of this wing. Directly above the entrance, between the middle and top platbands, is a large rectangular window opening with identical trim, comprising three stained-glass transoms over four casements. To the right is a pair of circular windows identical to those at the front. Differing brick colouration confirms that the top section of this wing is a later addition, with five equally spaced top-hung 1/1 windows with concrete cills and heads, and four small granite panels above and between them. The roof of this section is flat and edged with moulded granite blocks and acroterions at the ends. The left cheek of this wing is plain except for the platbands which follow through from the side.

To the left of centre is an original two-storey wing, subsequently extended forward to form a three-storey street frontage. Only the inside right elevation of this wing retains its original detailing: a ramp leads up to a ground-floor fire door in a granite surround; above it at half-landing level is a 2/2 window with surround detailing as the main façade; above that is a circular window with identical detailing to the façade. The three-storey street extension is of red brick throughout with a flat roof. It incorporates reused portions of the original façade of this wing, sits on a chamfered granite base course, and has a continuous granite stringcourse in line with the ground-floor window lintel. Abutting its right rear quoin is a shallow projecting wall of stepped granite blocks rising two storeys with a scroll kneeler between ground and first floor — all that survives of the original façade to this wing. At the left of the street frontage is a large door opening; to its right are three 1/2 casement windows with trim as the main façade. At first-floor level are four equally spaced 1/1 top-hung timber casement windows with concrete lintels and cills. At second-floor level are five 1/1 top-hung casement windows sharing continuous granite cills and heads, with a granite strip inserted into the brick panel between each opening. The left cheek of this extension abuts a three-storey return. The rear return is of brick on a rock-faced coped ashlar granite base course with a parapetted flat roof. The street frontage is flanked by granite-quoined buttresses, with ashlar granite stringcourses dividing each floor level; a panel in the top section carries a granite stone bearing the date "1913".

REAR ELEVATION

This elevation comprises a flat-roofed block at the left (four windows wide) and the lower 1913 extension at the right (two windows wide). The left block is an addition to the rear of the main block; only its parapetted brick wall with two chimneys is visible. This wall faces downstream and rises directly from the coped parapet of the Armaghdown Bridge. It is symmetrically arranged with four semicircular-arched openings to the ground floor, four segmental-arched openings to the first floor, and four round-headed double-height windows above. Shallow brick pilasters in line with the bridge piers rise to brick chimneys above the parapet at the sides and centre. A granite stringcourse runs just above the cill line of the top set of windows, a moulded brick platband runs at the spring line of their heads, and a moulded brick cornice sits below the granite-coped parapet. A cast-iron downpipe runs either side of the middle pilaster. The two ground-floor openings at the left have decorative wrought-iron grilles over later brick infilling; the two at the right each contain a four-paned window, the cills of which are formed by the bridge parapet coping. There are four four-paned timber windows at first-floor level with segmental brick heads and granite cills. Above are four tall five-paned windows with semicircular heads (with brick imposts, fluted terracotta keystones and drip moulds), granite cills and raised aprons incorporating ventilators. The 1913 block at the right rises to halfway up the top windows of the left block. Three window openings are vertically aligned at the left and two at the right; the lower right opening is at stair half-landing level and the upper is level with the top left-hand window. All have segmental brick heads, granite cills and four-paned timber windows. A coped parapet runs above a moulded brick platband at eaves level. The right gable is bounded by the granite-quoined buttress flanking the left elevation.

RIGHT (BANK PARADE) ELEVATION

This elevation is abutted at the left by the right wing of the main façade and at the right by the side of the rear addition. The centre contains the sidewall of the main block, much of whose upper detailing is similar to the left elevation though the composition varies. There are three small and one larger window to the ground floor, all segmental-headed with granite cills; only the first from the left retains an original timber casement, the rest being modern replacements. Immediately above are two small and one large window, all with segmental heads and granite cills; the larger one, in line with the larger ground-floor window, is a modern replacement in an original opening. Above are two pairs of tall semicircular-headed windows identical in detailing to those on the left elevation, with associated circular windows above. The wall is topped by a parapet relieved by six moulded brick panels with instepped corners, symmetrically arranged about a central chimney. The returning higher-level parapet from the front façade terminates in a further chimney. All windows are fixed timber except the topmost tall window from the left, which has been converted into a doorway for a metal escape stair running down the wall; this door is timber with six fielded panels. A further fire-exit door occupies an original opening below the second tall window from the left. To the right, the side of the rear block abuts — three storeys high and one window wide, with wall detailing matching the rear elevation. At ground level is a door with a segmental head, above which is a segmental-headed window; at the top is a tall semicircular-headed window, with a small fire-escape door to its left leading onto a metal balcony connecting with the fire stairs at the left.

At the left is the return of the lower side wing to the front façade, three storeys high with a natural slate hip roof, sitting on a stepped chamfered ashlar granite base course as the main façade. The quoins at the left are horizontally V-channelled; there are no quoins to the right corner. Continuous moulded granite cill courses run to ground and first floors, with a third cornice at the base of parapet level corresponding to the cill course on the upper part of the front façade. The top storey is set back from the front façade, with a hipped slated roof rising behind a solid brick parapet. At ground floor left is a pair of 1/2 casement windows with stained glass, granite lintel and stepped quoin surround with all edges chamfered, with a similar but smaller window to the right. At first-floor left is a pair of 1/2 casement windows similar to those below but smaller and with plain glass; to the right is a four-paned timber casement window with three transoms above, also with a granite surround and lintel. The parapet above this floor has a small granite acroterion at each corner. The top storey sits back from this parapet and has a centrally placed pair of timber 1/2 casements with a granite surround matching those below, above which is a brick parapet with shallow piers with moulded coping and an acroterion at each of the two exposed corners. The right cheek of this wing has a fire-escape door between first and second-floor level. The detailing of the main block at this end matches the left elevation, with two brick pilasters with terracotta Corinthian capitals, a central terracotta relief panel, and raised/stepped brickwork cornice under the top granite platband and parapet.

INTERIOR

The public rooms retain their high Victorian detailing.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The need for a purpose-built town hall was first raised at a public meeting in the summer of 1887. It was not until March 1890 that the Newry Town Commissioners announced an architectural competition for its design. Of the fourteen proposals submitted, that by William Sterling of Dublin was selected for its architectural merit, modest cost, and the fact that it could incorporate much of the existing Savings Bank on Sugar Island (now the Arts Centre) into the new building. However, at their July meeting the Commissioners decided to build over the Newry River instead, judging it more economical to widen the bridge already planned opposite the old Savings Bank than to demolish the bank itself.

Nothing came of this scheme either, and in spring 1891 the Commissioners held a new competition, this time with a cost limit of £5,000. Six designs were received, two of which were rejected as too costly. Of the remaining four, the design by William Batt of Belfast — submitted under the pseudonym "Caroline" — was selected by the Commissioners' adjudicator, Thomas Drew, even though it exceeded the cost limit and accommodated fewer people than the brief specified. Batt's proposed hall was to be located on the new bridge then under construction, with the side and party walls resting over the abutments and piers rather than the arches to minimise loading. A fire station with a belfry for a hand-operated alarm bell was also planned for the rear. Batt was appointed as architect in August 1891.

Controversy followed. Sterling complained that his design had been dismissed out of hand despite him having told the Commissioners from the outset that it would exceed £5,000 — a cost Batt's design was ultimately also found to exceed. The Newry Trades' Council raised doubts about the bridge's ability to carry the building, though this may have had more to do with a labour dispute between the bridge contractor, David Mahood of Newry, and his workers than with any genuine structural concern. The most serious difficulty arose with the appointed contractors, Collen Brothers of Portadown, who objected to several clauses in the contract — particularly one holding them responsible for any subsidence of Mahood's bridge — and then compounded matters by admitting they had not read the conditions of tender. In January 1892 Collen Brothers withdrew from the contract. Their tender had been for £6,632; the next lowest was £6,850 from Messrs Dickson and Campbell, and Mahood's was £7,177. Though some Commissioners argued the contract should go to Mahood as the local man responsible for the bridge, it was decided to readvertise. Only Mahood retendered, at his original price, and was accordingly awarded the contract in March 1892 — some five years after the proposal was first mooted. Work began the following month, Mahood apparently having already extended the bridge downstream beyond its originally proposed width.

The building was opened by the Earl of Kilmorey in March 1894. The final cost was in the region of £12,000, more than twice the anticipated sum, though rates were not increased as a result. In 1895 Batt was asked to prepare a proposal for a tower to make the clock more visible and the bell more clearly audible; a sketch published in the Irish Builder of 15 November 1895 shows this positioned at the north-east corner of the building, but the proposal came to nothing. A minor hall was added to the back in 1913.