108 North Street & 1 Gresham Street: Exterior Description and Setting

Architectural Style and Structure

108 North Street and 1 Gresham Street is a three-storey building showcasing Mannerist architectural style, likely designed by James Gamble around 1908. This building is strategically located on the corner of North Street and Gresham Street and is the last remaining structure of what was once a terrace.

Layout and Design Features

The structure is rectangular in plan, featuring a one-bay width along North Street with a chamfered corner bay, and extends four bays wide along Gresham Street. It boasts three partially hipped slate roofs over each linear bay, complemented by black roll-moulded ridge-tiles extending from east to west. The roof of the southernmost bay has been levelled, accommodating a square-plan, timber-framed, and glazed addition. The main elevations are topped with a solid parapet that conceals the roof, complemented by heavily moulded and projecting eaves.

Walling and Windows

The building's walling is predominantly painted stucco, resting over a projecting plinth. Each storey is defined by heavy cornices, while the bays are accentuated by piers at the second floor. The walls are adorned with ornate embellishments. Windows throughout the building are generally segmental-headed, featuring replacement timber or metal frames. They typically include moulded and lugged architraves and cills, topped with projecting keystones and intersecting string courses, unless otherwise stated.

Ground Floor Details

The north-east portion of the ground floor is marked by five openings, which include a canted entrance bay. Each of these openings is flanked by octagonal polished granite columns, supporting a heavily corbelled cornice above. The large recessed openings are timber-framed and glazed, set over a mosaic tile plinth, and adorned with modern curved plastic-coated awnings.

Principal Elevation

The principal elevation faces north and features one window wide with a chamfered corner on the far left side, along with single openings on each floor. A Venetian window is present on the first floor of the main north elevation, complemented by a shop window on the ground floor and a modern glazed entrance door at the chamfered corner.

East Elevation

The east elevation displays four regularly arranged windows across the upper floors, with an exception of a single oculus on the far left of the first floor. The ground floor presents an asymmetrical layout, featuring three shop windows on the right side. The left side contains a replacement six-panelled timber door with a plain glass transom and hood mould, along with a round-headed window to the right and a Venetian window to the left, capped by a semicircular window on the far left side.

South and West Elevations

The south elevation is one bay wide, featuring a single window on the first floor, while the west elevation is primarily roughcast brick, with smooth render and paint on the upper right side. This elevation is completely blank, having previously been abutted by an adjoining building.

Setting

108 North Street and 1 Gresham Street is situated on a prominent corner site, with its long axis addressing Gresham Street and the short axis aligning with North Street. The building is located near the principal crossroads between Royal Avenue and North Street, making it clearly visible from this junction. Nearby important structures include the Bank of Ireland (HB26/50/187), Sinclair’s Store (HB26/50/186), and No.104 Royal Avenue (HB26/50/184).

Building Materials

Roof: Slate
Rainwater Goods: Cast-iron and replacement metal
Walling: Stucco
Windows: Timber / metal casements

689 Lisburn Road

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