Elmwood Hall, now a modern concert hall owned by Queen’s University Belfast, was originally built as the Elmwood Presbyterian Church in 1862. The building showcases a blend of architectural styles, predominantly Italianate, featuring a spire atop a campanile. The design also incorporates a Renaissance arcade with chunky Venetian columns, medieval machicolations, a classical cornice and balustrade, a Moorish well canopy, and a French needle spire, all merging into a cohesive yet elaborate Irish interpretation of a Lombard Gothic church.
The hall and its attached tower exhibit a Lombardo-Venetian style, with the tower constructed from Dungannon Sandstone and the main building from Scrabo Sandstone. The façade and tower boast rich architectural detailing, with the sides and rear mostly rendered. Originally serving as the Elmwood Presbyterian Church, school rooms were added in 1866. Some replacement stone used in the building may have been sourced from the demolished GPO on Royal Avenue in 1985.
If you fancy learning more about the Queen’s Quarter, come on my tour of the area! Details are here.