Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720 - 1940

Architect, of Belfast. Nicholas Fitzsimons, a son of William Boyle Fitzsimons and his wife Jane Molyneaux, was born at Dunsona, Co. Antrim, on 21 June 1869 and was educated at the Royal Academical Institution, Belfast. He was articled to ROBERT GRAEME WATT  ROBERT GRAEME WATT of Belfast from 1888 until 1891 and remained as Watt's assistant for a further three years. After spending six months as assistant to JOHN LANYON  JOHN LANYON in Belfast, he joined the office of Sir WILLIAM EMERSON  WILLIAM EMERSON in London. He passed his RIBA qualifying exam in 1895 and set up in independent practice in Belfast on 1 January 1896. (1)  In 1908, according to his 1911 census return, he married his wife, Annie Evelina, and the following year, in August 1909, he formed a partnership with FREDERICK HENRY TULLOCH  FREDERICK HENRY TULLOCH of the firm of GRAEME WATT & GRAEME WATT & amp; TULLOCH TULLOCH . The new partnership practised under the name of WATT TULLOCH & WATT TULLOCH & amp; FITZSIMONS  FITZSIMONS until 1915, when Watt's name was dropped, and continued as TULLOCH & TULLOCH & amp; FITZSIMONS  FITZSIMONS until the 1940s, although Tulloch retired to England in 1922. After Tulloch's retirement, Fitzsimons took as partner his assistant ROBERT FRATER ROBERT FRATER , who remained with the firm until the 1940s, when Fitzsimons was joined by his son, another Nicholas. His name disappears from the list of architects practising in Belfast after 1945.

Fitzsimons's pupils and assistants included WILLIAM CHARLES MAXWELL.& WILLIAM CHARLES MAXWELL.& #160; He was a subscriber to George Lister Sutcliffe, The Principles and Practice of Modern House-Construction (London, 1898).


RIAI: elected member, 1900, having been proposed by ROBERT GRAEME WATT ROBERT GRAEME WATT , seconded by ALBERT EDWARD MURRAY  ALBERT EDWARD MURRAY and WILLIAM MANSFIELD MITCHELL WILLIAM MANSFIELD MITCHELL ;(2) ceased membership, 1905.(3)
RIBA: elected associate, 2 Mar 1896, proposed by William Emerson, Alexander Graham and John Slater; elected fellow, 10 June 1907, proposed by William Emerson, WILLIAM JOHN GILLILAND  WILLIAM JOHN GILLILAND and Frederick Henry Tulloch.
RSUA: founder member, 1901; hon. secretary, 1901-1903,1908-1909; vice-president, 1913; president 1914-1920;(4) resigned from council, 1921; no longer listed as member by 1937.

Addresses: 82 Royal Avenue, Belfast, <=1898-1903;(5) 10 High Street, 1904;(6) 13 Lombard Street, 1904;(7) 21 Castle Place, Belfast, 1923;(8) Friends' Provident Building, 58 Howard Street, Belfast, 1933-1934.(9)
Home: Tudor, Greenisland, Co. Antrim, 1908; Kilclief, 36 (later 60) Myrtlefield Park, Belfast, 1908-1940ca.

See WORKS. See also works of WATT TULLOCH & WATT TULLOCH & amp; FITZSIMONS  FITZSIMONS and TULLOCH & TULLOCH & amp; FITZSIMONS. FITZSIMONS.



References

All information in this entry not otherwise accounted for is from R.M. Young, Belfast and the Province of Ulster in the 20th Century (1909), 599, which is illustrated with a portrait photograph, Directory of British Architects 1834-1914 (RIBA 2001), I, 653, and Paul Larmour, 'An Edwardian Stylist', Perspective 4 (Jan/Feb 1996), 59-61. Larmour's article reproduces the photograph of Fitzsimons which appears in Young, loc. cit.

(1)
IAA, RIAI office archives (Acc. 93/136), membership forms 1878-1909 (extremely fragile).  
(2)
See note 1, above.
(3)
RIBAJ 14 (1906-7), 560.
(4)
RSUA Jubilee Year Book 1951-52, 5,15-17.
(5)
IB 45, 19 Nov 1903, 2098.
(6)
See note 1, above
(7)
IB 46, 3 Dec 1904, 826.
(8)
Who's Who in Architecture 1923, 91;
(9)
IB 75, 30 Dec 1933, 1130.


30 work entries listed in chronological order for FITZSIMONS, NICHOLAS


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Building: CO. ANTRIM, WHITEABBEY, PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Date: 1899-1900
Nature: Rebuilding, apart from portions of the side walls. Reopened May 1900. Builders: J. & W. Stewart. Cost about £3,500.
Refs: PRONI D.1898/1/34IB 42, 1 Jun 1900, 377; B 78, 19 May 1900, 497; Paul Larmour, 'An Edwardian Stylist', Perspective 4 (Jan/Feb 1996), 59; Laurence Kirkpatrick, Presbyterians in Ireland: an illustrated history (Booklink, 2006), 141(illus.).

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, GLANDORE AVENUE, SCHOOLS
Date: 1900
Nature: New. Queen Anne revival style, For Fortwilliam Presbyterian Church. Builder: James Kidd.
Refs: IB 42, 1 Feb 1900, 256; Paul Larmour, 'An Edwardian Stylist', Perspective 4 (Jan/Feb 1996), 59

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, LINEN HALL STREET, NO. 021 (MCCRUM, WATSON & MERCER)
Date: 1900-01
Nature: Linen warehouse.
Refs: PRONI, W.H. Stephens & Sons papers, D1898/1/36; IB 42, 1 Jul 1900, 412; IB 43, ? ? 1901, 599; Marcus Patton, Central Belfast: an historical gazetteer (UAHS, 1993), 214; Paul Larmour, 'An Edwardian Stylist', Perspective 4 (Jan/Feb 1996), 59

Building: CO. DOWN, BANGOR, GRAY'S HILL, NO. 058
Date: 1900ca
Nature: Irregular red brick house on corner site 'probably' by NF.
Refs: Paul Larmour, 'An Edwardian Stylist', Perspective 4 (Jan/Feb 1996), 60; Marcus Patton, Bangor: an historical gazetteer (UAHS, 1999), 85

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BALLYEASTON, PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (2ND)
Date: 1902-03
Nature: Extensive remodelling, including new vestibule and tower, new pitch pine ceiling. Reopened Apr 1903. Stained glass by Ward & Co. Belfast. Builder: W.H. Beggs.
Refs: IB 43, 8 May 1902, 1240; B 84, 18 Apr 1903, 418; Paul Larmour, 'An Edwardian Stylist', Perspective 4 (Jan/Feb 1996), 59; illus. in Laurence Kirkpatrick, Presbyterians in Ireland: an illustrated history (Booklink, 2006),  338.


Building: CO. ANTRIM, LARNE, SMILEY COTTAGE HOSPITAL
Date: 1902-1903
Nature: New hospital with frontage of 140 ft. Brick and pebble dash. Site and cost of building provided by H.H. Smiley. FS laid 15 Oct 1902. Opened Oct 1903. Estimated cost £5,000 but eventual cost £10,000. Builder: James Ferris, Larne.
Refs: IB 44, 23 Oct 1902, 1456, illus. in supplement; Building News 83, 3 Oct 1902, 467; 85, 30 Oct 1903, 602; B 85, 7 Nov 1903, 469; R.M. Young, Belfast and the Province of Ulster in the 20th Century (1909), 147-8(illus.); Who's Who in Architecture 1923, 91; Paul Larmour, 'An Edwardian Stylist', Perspective 4 (Jan/Feb 1996), 59-60(illus.)

Building: CO. ANTRIM, ANTRIM, DISPENSARY & MEDICAL OFFICER'S RESIDENCE
Date: 1903
Nature: New. Probable cost £1000.
Refs: IB 45, 10 Sep,19 Nov 1903, 1960,2098; Paul Larmour, 'An Edwardian Stylist', Perspective 4 (Jan/Feb 1996), 59

Building: CO. DERRY, BALLYNURE, PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH & LECTURE HALL
Date: 1903
Nature: Adds. & repairs.
Refs: IB 45, 27 Aug 1903, 1956; Paul Larmour, 'An Edwardian Stylist', Perspective 4 (Jan/Feb 1996), 59

Building: CO. TYRONE, AUGHNACLOY, LECTURE HALL & RESIDENCE
Date: 1903
Nature: -
Refs: Paul Larmour, 'An Edwardian Stylist', Perspective 4 (Jan/Feb 1996), 59

Building: CO. ANTRIM, LARNE, THE RODDENS, LISNAMOYLE
Date: 1903-04
Nature: Old English style, for William Brown.
Refs: Paul Larmour, 'An Edwardian Stylist', Perspective 4 (Jan/Feb 1996), 59,61(illus.)

Building: CO. ANTRIM, LARNE, THE RODDENS, MERCHISTON
Date: 1903-04
Nature: Old English style, for C.L. Mackean.
Refs: Paul Larmour, 'An Edwardian Stylist', Perspective 4 (Jan/Feb 1996), 59

Building: CO. ANTRIM, LARNE, VICTORIA ROAD, CARNEGIE LIBRARY
Date: 1904-06
Nature: New library. Tenders invited Dec 1904. Opened 2 Apr 1906.
Refs: IB 46, 3 Dec 1904, 826; Paul Larmour, 'An Edwardian Stylist', Perspective 4 (Jan/Feb 1996), 60(illus.); Brendan Grimes, Irish Carnegie Libraries: a catalogue and architectural history (1998), 180-181(illus.)

Building: CO. DOWN, CARRYDUFF, PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Date: 1906
Nature: Reconstruction.
Refs: B 90, 3 Feb 1906, 131 (advt. for tenders); Paul Larmour, 'An Edwardian Stylist', Perspective 4 (Jan/Feb 1996), 60

Building: CO. ANTRIM, ANTRIM, HIGH STREET, PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Date: 1907
Nature: Reconstruction.
Refs: B 92, 16 Mar 1907, 340 (advt. for tenders); Paul Larmour, 'An Edwardian Stylist', Perspective 4 (Jan/Feb 1996), 60

Building: CO. ANTRIM, GREENISLAND, HOUSE
Date: 1907
Nature: New bungalow. Builder: H. Keith, Belfast.
Refs: IB 49, 1 Jun 1907, 593

Building: CO. ANTRIM, GLENARIFF, KILMORE HOUSE
Date: 1907-08
Nature: Additions and alterations, for Mrs Silvertop.
Refs: Plans, elevations, sections, details of plaster ceiling, specification,&c., 1907, in PRONI, D2977/37/14/1-8 (see PRONI e-catalogue); Paul Larmour, 'An Edwardian Stylist', Perspective 4 (Jan/Feb 1996), 60,61(illus.)

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, MYRTLEFIELD PARK, NO. 060 (KILCLIEF)
Date: 1908
Nature: Arts & Crasfts style, for himself.
Refs: Paul Larmour, The Architectural Heritage of Malone & Stranmillis (UAHS, 1991), 141; Paul Larmour, 'An Edwardian Stylist', Perspective 4 (Jan/Feb 1996), 60

Building: CO. DOWN, NEWTOWNARDS, BANK OF IRELAND
Date: 1917a
Nature: New branch office. 3-storey, 4-bay with 3 columns separating bays on 1st and 2nd floors.
Refs: Undated drawing signed by Tulloch & Fitzsimons in Bank of Ireland Archives; Who's Who in Architecture 1923, 91

Building: CO. DOWN, PURDYSBURN, LUNATIC ASYLUM
Date: 1917ca
Nature: Extension(?) to Belfast villa colony asylum.
Refs: B 112, 12 Jan 1917, ?(illus.); Who's Who in Architecture 1923, 91

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, WARING STREET, BELFAST BANK
Date: 1919
Nature: Reconstruction and partial rebuilding.
Refs: Who's Who in Architecture 1923, 91; Paul Larmour, Belfast: an illustrated architectural guide (1987), 14 (no. 24)

Building: CO. DERRY, MAGHERAFELT, BELFAST BANK
Date: 1921-22
Nature: -
Refs: B 121, 16 Dec 1921, 828; Who's Who in Architecture 1923, 91

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, ?, BELFAST BANK
Date: ?
Nature: New branch office.
Refs: Who's Who in Architecture 1923, 91

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, ?, PROVINCIAL BANK BRANCH OFFICE
Date: ?
Nature: -
Refs: Who's Who in Architecture 1923, 91

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, KNOCK, HOUSE
Date: ?
Nature: -
Refs: Paul Larmour, 'An Edwardian Stylist', Perspective 4 (Jan/Feb 1996), 60

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BALLYMONEY, GREENVILLE
Date: ?
Nature: Proposed alterations.
Refs: Drawings belonging to William Stuart, Leixlip, Co. Kildare (in the 1970s) (IAA, Edward McParland files, Acc.2008/44)

Building: CO. DOWN, COMBER, CARNESURE
Date: ?
Nature: Stables.
Refs: Paul Larmour, 'An Edwardian Stylist', Perspective 4 (Jan/Feb 1996), 60

Building: CO. DOWN, BANBRIDGE, PROVINCIAL BANK
Date: ?
Nature: New bank (replacing one of 1836?).
Refs: Who's Who in Architecture 1923, 91

Building: CO. DOWN, KILKEEL, PROVINCIAL BANK
Date: ?
Nature: -
Refs: Who's Who in Architecture 1923, 91

Building: CO. DOWN, TANDRAGEE, PROVINCIAL BANK
Date: ?
Nature: -
Refs: Who's Who in Architecture 1923, 91

Building: CO. DOWN, RATHFRILAND, BELFAST BANK
Date: ?
Nature: New branch bank.
Refs: Northern Bank archives, NB/270; Who's Who in Architecture 1923, 91