PHOTOGRAPHED IN 28 APRIL 2011

OCEAN BUILDINGS

Mystery Solved: The Red Sandstone Landmark of Donegall Square

I was surprised to discover that I used the Sony VG10E camcorder to photograph this building when I first visited and photographed the built environment in Belfast back in 2011,

I am finally dusting off this photograph from the archives. I actually took this shot back in 2011 during a trip to Belfast, but it has sat unpublished on my hard drive for over a decade for one frustrating reason: I couldn't identify the building.

For years, I was convinced I had taken it on Oxford Street, near the Law Courts. I searched high and low on maps of that area but could never match the distinct architecture. It was a cold case in my photo collection until today, when I finally spotted the vital clue hiding in plain sight behind the scaffolding: the sign for "Sheldon."

It turns out my memory was slightly off by a few streets. This isn't Oxford Street; it is the magnificent Ocean Buildings (also known as Pearl Assurance House) located at 1-3 Donegall Square East, right on the corner of Chichester Street.

A Victorian Masterpiece Now that I know what it is, the history makes the building even more impressive. Completed around 1902, it was designed by the renowned Belfast architects Young & Mackenzie. It was originally built as the headquarters for the Ocean Accident & Guarantee Corporation, which explains the nautical themes hidden in the stone carvings—if you look closely at the masonry on this building, you can find mermaids and lighthouses, which were the corporation's trademark.

The building is a stunning example of the High Victorian style with strong Gothic and Tudor influences. The striking colour comes from Ballochmoyle red sandstone imported from Scotland, which makes it stand out vividly against the grey Belfast sky.

Frozen in Time In this photograph from 2011, the ground floor is heavily obscured by scaffolding and hoardings. At the time, the building was undergoing significant restoration work to preserve that beautiful red sandstone facade. The "Sheldon" sign visible in the shot belongs to Sheldon Galleries, a framers and art gallery that occupied the ground floor unit for many years, which ultimately helped me unlock the location.

It feels good to finally give this image a name and a place in my portfolio. It is a reminder that even arguably the most distinct buildings can hide from you if you are looking on the wrong street!