29 June 2007 - Historic station post - listed by Foster

The Minister said: “I am delighted that this historic building has been afforded statutory protection. The historic significance of railways is well demonstrated in an 1899 statistic that showed that seventy eight per cent of settlements in Northern Ireland with a population of between 1500 and 2000 people had a station of their own.

“My Department has responsibility for listing buildings of ‘special architectural or historic interest’ and this building meets that statutory test. It is important that it has been spot-listed, in order to protect its historic fabric and character.

“Historic buildings such as Cultra Railway Station are a great asset, and their protection and conservation is essential for present and future generations.”

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

1. The original railway station at Cultra was designed by Charles Lanyon and built by the Belfast, Holywood and Bangor Railway (incorporated in the act of 1860).
2. The present station building at Cultra dates from 1897, the original having been burnt down the previous spring. The dwelling house is a substantial two-storied brick building, with extensive passenger accommodation adjoining, which stands on the ‘down’ platform, approached by a company driveway and turning area for carriages.
3. 3. A major factor in having a station at Cultra was to please the Kennedy family of Cultra House (later of Cultra Manor, now home to the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum).
4. The Belfast, Holywood and Bangor Railway was opened in 1865 and absorbed by the Belfast and County Down Railway in 1884, which connected Belfast and Newcastle with branches to Bangor, Donaghadee, Ballynahinch, Downpatrick and Ardglass.
5. With the exception of the line between Belfast and Bangor, which still retains a busy suburban service, the remainder of this railway system was closed in 1950.
6. Cultra station was reduced to halt status in 1934, at the same time as the station house became a private dwelling. The halt/station was closed in 1957 but re-opened as an un-manned halt in the late 1970s, when the adjacent transport museum opened.
7. Responsibility for listing buildings of ‘special architectural or historic interest’ lies with the Department of the Environment and is carried out by Environment and Heritage Service. The statutory authority is contained in Article 42 of the Planning (NI) Order 1991. The Department also has statutory authority under Article 42A of the Planning (Amendment) (NI) Order 2003, to serve a Building Preservation Notice (so called ‘Spot Listing’): “If it appears to the Department that a building which is not a listed building - is (a) of special architectural or historic interest; and (b) is in danger of demolition or of alteration in such a way as to affect its character as a building of such interest”.
8. Such a notice may be served on either the owner – if known – and/or the building itself and offers statutory protection as if the building were listed, for a period of six months to enable the Department to carry out a full survey of the building and arrived at a final decision.
9. Compensation may be payable if the Department does not subsequently list the building.