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Inchmarlo Prep School and 143 Malone Road to be listed

Belfast City Council Planning Committee backs designation of the buildings in the south of the city

143 Malone Road
143 Malone Road

Belfast will have two new listed buildings, after City Hall lent its support to the designation for two 19th century constructions in South Belfast.

At a meeting of the Belfast City Council Planning Committee this week, elected representatives supported the listing of Inchmarlo Prep School, Cranmore Park, and 143 Malone Road, both in BT9.

A listed building is one included in a list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest. The Stormont Department of Communities is responsible for giving the status for lists of buildings of special architectural or historic interest, but all prospective lists are put through local councils for approval before going to consultation.

The second survey of all of Northern Ireland’s building stock is currently underway to update and improve on the first list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest, which began in 1974. This second survey in Belfast was due to be completed in 2017 but is ongoing.

Inchmarlo Prep School is an independent boys prep school. The original building was finished in 1881 on the proceeds of Belfast’s burgeoning linen industry and was the residence successively of three prominent businessmen involved in the linen trade.

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It was taken over by Royal Belfast Academical Institution in 1935 and remodelled as the school’s preparatory department. A B1 listing has been proposed.

The council report states: “Despite some changes which have taken place to the main building in recent years, the principal building retains its internal layout largely intact, together with many internal and external features evocative both of its first 50 years as a villa residence.”

143 Malone Road is two-storey Italianate former villa, built in 1897 for Frank Kerr Solicitor, to designs by architect William J Moore. It is now in use as offices for the Construction Employers Federation.

The council report states: “Both the interior and exterior of the main front block retain much original historic fabric and detailing. Externally, details such as 1/1 timber sliding sash windows with single glazing, an open-columned porch with decorative capitals, stone string coursing and corbelled, dentilled eaves survive.

“Internally there is a fine, decorative timber staircase, much original joinery and particularly fine plaster detailing to ceilings and friezes.”

It adds: “While (it) has been modernised and extended to the rear, and other alterations have taken place over the years, including the alteration of the original gatelodge, this is a building that expresses its significance through retention of its original style, survival of ornamentation and much of the original plan form. Its authenticity, combined with an interesting history determines it to be of special architectural and historic interest.”

A B2 listing has been proposed for this building.

Listed buildings in Northern Ireland are divided into four categories. Grade A special buildings are of national importance including both outstanding grand buildings and the fine, little-altered examples of important style or date.

Grade B+ special buildings are those that might have merited A status but were reduced over detracting features such as impurities of design, or lower quality additions or alterations.

Grade B1 and B2 Special buildings refer to those of more local importance or displaying good examples of period style. Degrees of alteration or imperfection are acceptable in this category.