St. Colman's Hall, Trevor Hill, Newry, Co Down, BT34 1DN

St. Colman's Hall, on Trevor Hill in Newry, is a two-storey curved facade of highly decorated Lombardo-Gothic Revival style, constructed around 1867 from Newry granite. The facade sweeps around the east side of Trevor Hill and is flanked by coach arches on either end. It is Grade B2 listed.

The facade is built of ashlar granite ashlar on a projecting base course, with reconstituted stone dressings throughout. Three foliated stringcourses run horizontally across the facade: one at ground floor window arch springing level, one rising through the upper part of the ground floor to form pediments to the coach arches, and one at first floor window arch springing level. A plain moulded string marks cill level of the first floor windows, continuing to abut the coach arch pediments. Just below eaves level is a narrow moulded stringcourse with a plain granite frieze above. The projecting cornice at eaves is supported on corbel brackets, between which are square panels with gothic headed recesses. The parapet above consists of three equal panels of fretted stonework in an interlocking ring design, with pairs of panelled posts between each panel and at each end, each post having a segmental head.

The ground floor contains five equally spaced semicircular-headed windows, each consisting of two casements under a fanlight, all set within colonetted reveals. Each colonette rests upon a plinth block and has a foliated head at the spring of arch level, connected to a continuous foliated spring. The intrados of each arch has a roll moulded chamfer. All windows rest on a continuous moulded cill course, which stops at the ends of the outer windows. In the spandrels between each window and to either end of the facade are foliated roundels, each with a hood mould over. The roundels between the first and second windows from the left and right are larger but have similar detailing.

The first floor contains three equally spaced paired windows, each with two casements and a fanlight. Between each pair is a colonette, with demi-colonettes to each jamb. Each colonette has a square plinth block and a foliated head at the spring of arch level, connected to a continuous foliated spring. The semicircular headed arch over the transoms has a roll moulded chamfer. Over each pair of windows is a segmental headed panel with roll-moulded reveal and a raised figurative keystone. Within each panel, above the central colonette of each window pair, is a moulded roundel panel, with foliated panels decorating the spandrels on either side. Between each window and at the ends (four in total) are decorative roundels matching those on the ground floor, each with a hood mould over and foliated relief.

To either end at ground floor, the walls continue rising into gables, each containing a semicircular headed coach arch. The foliated stringcourse between ground and first floor continues out over the flanking gables as a coping. The cill course of the first floor windows continues as a wall head to meet the gable over each arch and continues on the other side. Each archway has a large projecting figurative keystone, a curved reveal and voussoirs, with a pair of post-war wrought iron gates. Roundel panels matching those on the facade appear to either side of each arch, with a larger one in the gable above the keystone. The right arch carries raised letters stating 'Saint Colmans Hall' arranged in a shallow curve above the keystone.

The building behind the facade is entirely post-Second World War. The side walls are wet dashed. The flat felted roof has a parapet gutter and metal downpipes to the left and right elevations.

The main entrance is at ground floor right, accessed through the arch into a small paved area, featuring two pairs of timber doors with a projecting central ticket booth under a projecting canopy. The first floor wall is entirely glazed with occasional panels of orange and blue glass. The left arch leads to a service yard.

The building was erected around 1867 by Henry Thompson & Co as an office and wine store. In 1868, Thompson entered into partnership with Hercules B. Moorehead. David & Ferris occupied the building in the 1920s. The rear warehouse section was demolished after the Second World War to make way for the present St. Colman's Hall. An 1894 photograph shows the building originally had a central front door, with corbels on either side supporting a segmental archway spanning as a hood with decorative masonry parapet. There is no doorway to the present facade.

Trevor Hill was laid out in the late 18th century and developed in the early years of the 19th century. This site is shown with buildings in the 1830s but was vacant in 1863. The listing covers the front block of the hall and archways only. The building is set within a conservation area and is owned by the Roman Catholic Church.