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Headline Building
This building is more commonly known after the Head Line shipping company that was purchased by G. Hyn & Sons in 1917. It’s origins however, date to 1863 when Thomas Jackson designed it for the Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Company.
On this side of the building steel girders act like huge plasters keeping the building together. The construction of apartments next door which is incidentally, under the same proprietor, has caused unfortunate structural damage to this listed building.
Considered one of Belfast’s most important Victorian architects Jackson was a pupil of another great architect Thomas Duff. Jackson is also accredited with designing Wilmont House, the Academical Institution and Saint Malachy's Church.
The style is clearly Italianate although it came towards the end of the late Victorian era. An asymmetrical plan, classical motifs, stone loggias and pedimented, tall, first floor windows are typical features here. This small icon above the main door probably depicts Ireland’s patron saint, St Patrick surrounded by another nationalist symbol that of shamrocks.
Out of interest one character from the past that worked in this building was Robert Thompson, son of James Thompson, then headmaster of the Royal Academical Institution. He worked as an actuary for Scottish Amicable for £20 per year.
The main reception area here is of great interest. On the corner of the dome are heraldic shields representing the four provinces of Ireland. And there’s quite a strange anomaly here: the Red Hand of Ulster is actually the left hand when it should depict the right one. There doesn’t appear to be any reason for this except that this coincidence was also repeated on the funnel markings of the Headline Company. The dome itself is made of metal whereas the original one would have been of stain glass, in order to fit in with the other classical elements here. In 1976 the IRA planted a bomb in this very room which devastated the entire complex.
Currently, this is the seat for the Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission. They select and recommend candidates for judicial office. Some of the rooms here are used for high level conferences with governmental bodies.
On opposing walls is the British Royal coat of arms. The French motto translates as "God and my right". On either side is the Red Hand of Ulster, this time showing the right hand while above them are another four heraldic shields that stemmed from British Monarchs: Henry II, Richard I, James I and Edward III.
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