Historical Information on 25-39 Arthur Street

Overview of 25-39 Arthur Street

No's 25-39 Arthur Street is a two-storey classical building constructed in 1894, featuring elegant granite stone. It was originally established as the headquarters for Dunville & Co., a prominent whiskey distillery in Belfast.

Architectural Design

The building was designed by Vincent Craig (1869-1925), who was the younger brother of James Craig, the first Prime Minister of Northern Ireland. Vincent Craig trained under W. H. Lynn from 1885 to 1889 and launched his independent practice in Belfast in 1891. Recognised as a significant figure in the Art Nouveau movement in Ulster, Craig’s design for Dunville & Co.'s headquarters is noted for its formal and classical style, which is somewhat atypical for his body of work (Irish Builder, p. 773; Dictionary of Irish Architects).

Dunville & Co. Background

Dunville & Co. was also responsible for managing the Royal Irish Distilleries and was classified as distillers, bonders, and wholesale wine and spirit merchants in the Belfast Street Directories. Before relocating to Arthur Street, Dunville & Co. operated from Calendar Street, which was situated at the rear of the current site (BST – 1901).

Valuation History

Upon the completion of the new headquarters, 25-39 Arthur Street was initially valued at £700 in the Annual Revisions. This assessment increased to £800 in 1900 following the Belfast Revaluation. The construction cost was recorded at £16,175, with the original ground plan indicating that the central dome was a key architectural feature. Notably, the overall layout of the building has remained unchanged since its construction in 1894.

Alterations and Changes in Occupancy

For three decades, no significant alterations were made to Dunville’s headquarters. In 1911, an appeal was made regarding the rateable value, resulting in a reduction to £725. The Annual Revisions were eventually cancelled in 1930. By the time of the First General Revaluation in Northern Ireland in 1935, Dunville & Co. still occupied the building, which was revalued at £1,080. However, due to declining fortunes, Dunville & Co. entered liquidation in 1936.

Conversion to Belfast Savings Bank

In 1938, the former distillery offices were repurposed as the headquarters of the Belfast Savings Bank, designed by Samuel Stevenson & Sons, a practice established in 1924 that primarily engaged in commercial projects (Irish Builder, p. 773; Dictionary of Irish Architects).

Impact of World War II

The Second World War disrupted property valuations in Northern Ireland, delaying the next general valuation until 1956. By the end of the revaluation in 1972, the Belfast Savings Bank continued to occupy the building, which had increased in value to £2,840.

Arthur Street Historical Context

Arthur Street derives its name from one of the Earls of Donegall. In the early 19th century, the street was known for its fine residential properties. However, during the Victorian period's commercial redevelopment, these domestic dwellings were replaced with retail shops and office buildings. Surviving examples from this era include the Mayfair Building (HB26/50/096) and the State Buildings (HB26/50/100), both of which still stand on Arthur Street.

Dunville & Co.’s Legacy

Dunville & Co. traces its roots back to the earlier firm of Napier & Co. of Bank Lane. John Dunville joined Napier & Co. in 1801 and became a full partner in 1807, leading to the company’s name change to Napier & Dunville. By 1825, Dunville had full control and renamed it Dunville & Co., relocating to Calendar Street that same year. Over the next 70 years, the company flourished, establishing the Royal Irish Distilleries in 1869, which employed 450 skilled workers. The current offices on Arthur Street were built in 1894, extending the earlier premises on Calendar Street, which is no longer standing.

Decline and Transition

Dunville & Co. gained substantial revenue from exporting Irish whiskey to the United States. However, the prohibition in the U.S.A. (1920-1933), coupled with the economic downturn following the First World War and the Wall Street Crash, led to the company’s decline. By 1936, Dunville & Co. was liquidated, and its grand headquarters on Arthur Street were sold to the Belfast Savings Bank (Patton, p. 19; Dunville & Co. history website).

Later Use and Current Status

From 1938 until approximately 1990, No's 25-39 Arthur Street was occupied by the Trustees Savings Bank. In 1994, Patton commented on the unique design of Vincent Craig, describing the former bank offices and distillery headquarters as: ‘A classical two-storey building in grey granite, very restrained for Craig. The ground floor features a dentilated cornice that forms a hood over the doorcase; first-floor windows are adorned with pediments; a dentilated main cornice is topped by a balustraded parapet marked by urns, chimneys, and a central pediment without a base.’ Larmour noted that the building was designed in an Italian Renaissance-style palazzo, but commented that the main pediment appeared oddly placed, lacking proper aesthetic relation to the façade below (Patton, p. 19; Larmour, p. 57).

Listing and Modern Use

No's 25-39 Arthur Street was listed in 1986, at which point it had been vacated by the Trustees Savings Bank. After several years of vacancy, the building was converted in 2005 into its current use as a French-themed bar and nightclub known as Café Vaudeville.

References

Primary Sources

PRONI OS/6/1/61/3 – Third Edition Ordnance Survey Map 1901-02
PRONI OS/6/1/61/4 – Fourth Edition Ordnance Survey Map 1931
PRONI OS/6/1/61/5 – Fifth Edition Ordnance Survey Map 1938
PRONI VAL/12/B/43/D/8-14 – Annual Revisions 1882-1896
PRONI VAL/12/B/43/C/17-45 – Annual Revisions 1897-1930
PRONI VAL/7/B/9/37 – Belfast Revaluation 1900
PRONI VAL/3/B/3/14 – First General Revaluation of Northern Ireland 1935
PRONI VAL/4/B/7/38 – Second General Revaluation of Northern Ireland 1956-72
Irish Builder, Vol. 80 (17 Sept 1938)
Belfast Street Directories (1861-1943)
First Survey Image – HB26/50/171 (1983)

Secondary Sources

Larmour, P., ‘Belfast: An illustrated architectural guide’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1987.
Patton, M., ‘Central Belfast: An historical gazetteer’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1993.

Online Resources

Dictionary of Irish Architects - www.dia.ie
Dunville & Co. History website - www.dunville.org/whiskey.html#distillery

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