A blog of sketches of historic buildings - Marks of Time

Larne Town Hall

19/10/2024

It has been pointed out to me that I have no drawings of Larne on this website. I do, but it is tucked away within the general Ulster Tour. This sketch, from 2014, shows the fine town hall. Opened in 1870 it is a classic example of Ruskinian Gothic with the polychrome brickwork approach John Ruskin popularised in his writings after visiting Venice. It was also the style of choice for much of our railway buildings which were constructed around the same time. When first opened it contained a large meeting room, offices, a reading room and library and a small museum. The building was very carefully conserved by the District Council about 15 years ago an is in very good condition. Still with a municipal use, it makes a strong contribution to the historic heart of this Ulster town.

155. marks of time.

23/6/2015

Bonamargy Friary further along the coast road at Ballycastle is thought to date from around 1500. The remains of its east window shows that it once contained refined gothic tracery in the Decorated Style. It is now a monument in state care and an picturesque ruin.

153. marks of time.

20/6/2015

Further north along the coast road is Ballygally Castle. Now a hotel, this was constructed by James Shaw of Greenock in 1625 and is a tower house in the Sottish Style with projecting bartizans at roof level. The feature which identifies it as an Ulster building is the enclosing bawn wall with corner towers or flankers typical of the defences built around strong houses during the Ulster Plantation.

June 17th, 2015

17/6/2015

152 www.Marksoftime.com

North Gate Carrickfergus. It was erected in 1608 and restored (Battlements and plaque added) in 1911.

June 16th, 2015

16/6/2015

151. www.Marksoftime.com
Carrickfergus Town Walls at Joymount. These were built between 1608 and 1615 and can still be traced for a significant part of their circuit. This is the best preserved stretch to the north west of the town near the location of the former great Elizabethan House of ‘Joymount’

June 15th, 2015

15/6/2015

150. www.Marksoftime.com

St Nicholas’ Church Carrickfergus as illustrated on a map of 1560 and as it is today. Work started on the building in 1182 soon after the Norman settlement of the area. The building has endured much change and destruction over the years but remains one of Ulster’s oldest churches still in use.

149. Marks of time.

14/6/2015

Carrickfergus town from the castle as drawn in a map of 1560 and almost as it is today. Dobbins Inn conceals a tower house behind its current façade. I have imagined what this might look like if the battlements, window openings and roof pitch of the 1560’s remained on this building. I have also re-erected the 1560's market cross in the square. It would certainly help encourage tourists to cross the Marine Highway and explore this very historic town. It has been done elsewhere. Check out the Desmond banqueting Hall in Newcastle West, Co. Limerick, with its re-erected battlements.

June 12th, 2015

12/6/2015

June 11th, 2015

11/6/2015

147. www.Marksoftime.comCastle Place, Belfast. The location of the medieval castle, later enhanced by Sir Arthur Chichester in the Seventeenth Century and surrounded by a large garden, was in the plot now occupied by the buildings on the left side of this drawing.

June 10th, 2015

10/6/2015

148. www.Marksoftime.com

The Lyric Theatre on the River Lagan, by O'Donnell and Tuomey Architects, is a fine recent addition (2011). to Belfast’s public buildings.