No 36 Castle Street, Lisburn (1)

Image: © Albert Bridge Taken: 2 Jan 2011

No 34 Castle Street previously seen in Image – a long-time vacant property now with an agent’s board advertising it “For sale with planning permission for change of use to retail and offices”. Listed as HB19/16/005 and on the “at risk” register where it is described as “The UAHS list of 1969 in the then Borough of Lisburn referred to the old Masonic Hall as a “three-storey, five-bay building, rendered fairly recently, with Ionic porch and pediment and extremely good cast iron fanlight”. The description went on to suggest that the building was “in grave “danger” , presumably due to the uncertainty surrounding its future as it was for sale. Almost forty years later the building is again faced with the unknown, being vacant, and having recently suffered fire damage. However, unlike the late-1960s, it is now afforded statutory protection, both through listing, and also within the Lisburn Conservation Area, designated in 1992. It is a building of tremendous character and an important frame for the neighbouring Castle Gardens. Refs: UAHS, Lisburn, 1969, p.11 ”. Whether it is to be demolished or restored remains a mystery. The Google map and the satellite photo are a bit out of alignment. Continue to Image

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