The Story of Carrickfergus Townscape Heritage Initiative p5
Completed Capital Projects
4 Governor’s Place Kelly’s Coal Offices
Governor’s Place is a prominent location in Carrickfergus directly across the main road from the Castle and is named after the former place of residence of the Governor’s of the Carrickfergus Garrison, a position that extant records show existed between 1568 until 1841.
Constructed during the early 20th century (c.1910-1915), the ‘Kelly’s’ building at 4 Governor’s Place, was first plotted on the sixth edition OS map of 1920 and historic evidence shows that the current building replaced a previous single-storey structure.
Around 1915, Charles Legg, a prominent local coal merchant and shipbuilder first occupied the building.
From 1920 the building operated as a coal office and depot for the expanding Belfast based coal merchants, John Kelly Ltd, which sometime afterwards had its distinctive K logo decal inserted on the plasterwork at the front façade.
In more recent decades with the redevelopment of the harbour area from industrial to recreational use, the coal business ceased, and the historic coal yard to the rear of Kelly’s along with a distinctive ‘Belfast Truss’ roof fell into disrepair.
In recognition of its historical significance the coal yard has been recreated at the Ulster Folk Museum at Cultra.
The renovation of the building to its original state included the reconstruction of the roof and the rebuilding of its block chimneys.
Decorative architectural features particularly at the front of the building were reinstated which included the unique metal casement windows.
Inside the building a modern retail space was created including the internal remodelling of the space.
This included the creation of additional floor-space incorporating the original carriage arch which had been previously used by drovers to access the rear coal yard.
Currently the building hosts the Carrickfergus Maritime Exhibition on its first floor and is a retail shop.
Total Project Investment £295,754.
Warrant Officer’s House and Guard Room
Constructed around 1900, the Warrant Officer’s House and Guard Room are surviving buildings which formed part of the Antrim Artillery Barracks and Ordnance Store Site off Antrim Street.
The basalt rubblestone wall behind the buildings are part of an earlier perimeter wall enclosing the former County Antrim jail which had previously been located on the site.
The Antrim Artillery Militia was initially based at the Castle but took over the old courthouse (now Town Hall) and jail in 1856.
By the end of the century, they had demolished the old jail building and then erected their own buildings.
The Militia were a part of the fabric of Carrickfergus for over sixty years, from its formation in 1854 until demobilisation in 1919.
This prestigious unit was responsible for the defence of Belfast Lough, first at the Castle and later, during the First World War at Kilroot Fort.
The restoration work included the repointing of brick and stonework, repairs to the roof using reclaimed Bangor Blue slates, sash windows were repaired to their original condition and lime render covered the walls encouraging the use of traditional skills from over 100 years ago.
Visitors can now see the building recreated to show how these holding cells for disobedient soldiers looked at the turn of the last century and learn about the story of those who were based there.
An exhibition also explores 800 years of history on this significant site in the town.
Total Project Investment £284,448.
6-8 High Street Dobbins Inn
The Dobbins Inn Hotel is recognised to be one of the important buildings in this programme and has been listed by the Historic Environment Division (HED) in the Department for Communities as Grade B2 since 1986.
Firstly, work took place to remove the existing surface fabric.
This exposed the building structure to enable joint inspections with the HED to ascertain an accurate historical record of the construction and confirm the various uses throughout its lifetime.
That confirmed how much remained of the 15-16th Century tower house, how it was extended or altered up to the 20th Century.
These Inspections concluded with Reports from both the Client’s representatives and the Education Officer, Carrickfergus THI.
This inspection process was a prerequisite to making decisions as to how the building should be refurbished to accommodate the present use and enhance the historic character of both the building and the commercial Town Centre.
The property at 6-8 High Street has a rich and varied history.
It is now generally accepted that No. 8 was the former site of a tower-house as shown on the Map of Carrickfergus in 1562.
However, No.6 would appear to have been developed in conjunction with the shop premises that forms the corner site High Street-North Street, as the residence where the shop manager lived.
Research undertaken between the property owners and Historic Environment Division and part-funded by the Carrickfergus THI has proved an important milestone.
This research involved the first physical investigation which revealed the extent of the former tower-house structure at No.8 High Street.
Carbon dating of wood samples taken were analysed and found to date no later than the 1540’s.
This would concur with the depiction of Lythe’s map of 1567 and building occupied by a Stephen Dobbin.
The findings made from the investigation of the structural condition and the construction alterations from the many fenestration changes involved was essential in making the decision as to how to reinstate.
For example, nobody expected to find the brickwork above 2nd floor level and this has opened a completely new phase to the story.
The corner stones in the Dobbins front wall are believed to be from the same source as key stones used in the Carrickfergus Castle.
This creates an interesting link between the buildings.
During this study a careful examination has been made of the THI criteria.
A detailed search of Academic Studies of tower-house construction has been completed together with a review of the history of Carrickfergus, in order to set in context, the conflicting factors created by the long and diverse past that the subject building has gone through, and the need to present a viable commercial solution that will be acceptable to the public who have to be attracted to the premises.
The tower-house was originally the home of Stephen Dobbin.
It is believed that stables were added during the 1700s and it later became a bakery.
This may be when the large chimney breasts were built into the walls.
In 1861 it became the regional headquarters of the Police-Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC).
In 1950, with the layout somewhat similar as it is today, became the Dobbins Hotel registered with the AA and RAC.
The first edition Ordnance Survey (OS) map of 1832 depicts a pair of buildings on site, both of which are L-shaped on plan and of similar orientation to the current structures, except for the modern extension to the rear elevation.
In 1840, the OS memoirs noted that ‘one of the original houses, shown in the plan as Dobbins, is still in perfect preservation.
It is on the east side of the street and in line with the other houses, from which it is distinguished merely by two small square turrets, one at each angle in front’.
Photographic evidence shows the building exterior of No.8 had been altered by the late 19th century and the turrets removed.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund supported an extensive restoration of the buildings to sensitively interpret the medieval origins of No.8 High Street in a way that adds value to the building which is a hotel and hospitality business operating as Dobbins Inn.
This included the application of a harl render as opposed to modern sand and cement and re-roofing using natural Welsh slate.
The windows at No.8 are in a medieval style whilst the windows at No.6 High Street were a Georgian style.
Most noticeable is the recreation of crenellations (Battlements) at No.8. In the reception area the wall is exposed and shows the timber beam that was tested.
Internally the hotel has period style decor with 14, 3-star rooms with ensuite facilities, a popular bar, restaurant, and function room.
Additional information is available on the Dobbins website.
Samuel Wilson, Project Consultant, Dobbins Inn.
Total Project Investment £252,736