Ocean Buildings, Donegall Square East

This office block was built for the Ocean Accident Guarantee Corporation by Young & Mackenzie from 1899 to 1902.[1]

It is constructed in a perpendicular style in red Ballochmoyle sandstone.[2] It is Gothic Revival styled building that C.E.B. Brett described as ‘Scottish Baronial Tudor style’.[3] [4]

It is adorned by carvings of Edward VII, Queen Victoria  and Queen Alexandra groan ‘under the weight they have to carry’. [5]

The building has been occupied by architects: James A Hanna, 1920, John McGeagh 1940 and GP & RH Bell and HA Patton in the 1950s.[6]

Do you want to learn more about the history of Belfast? See this and other structures on Buildings & Bricks Tour!


[1] Marcus Patton, Central Belfast, An Historical Gazetteer (Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society)p.116.

[2] Marcus Patton, Central Belfast, An Historical Gazetteer (Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society), p.116.

[3] http://www.stonedatabase.com/buildings.cfm?bk=2549 Accessed 26.6.22.

[4] C.E.B. Brett, Buildings of Belfast, 1700-1914 Revised Edition  (London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1985), pp.70-71.

[5] Marcus Patton, Central Belfast, An Historical Gazetteer (Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society)p.116.

[6] Marcus Patton, Central Belfast, An Historical Gazetteer (Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society), p.116.