Inside look at McConnell’s Whisky Distillery, Crumlin Road Gaol, Belfast

July 17th, 2024

17 July 2024

This article is featured in the July 2024 edition of Perspective magazine, to purchase a copy click here

By the late 19th Century, Ireland was a major player in the whisky industry, producing 14 million gallons of whisky per year – equating to 70% of the world’s annual supply. As a recently established city, Belfast alone boasted an output around 6.7 million gallons in the early 1900s.

Within this thriving economic context Hugh McConnell established his business as a grocer and spirit dealer. After his death, his sons John and James McConnell opened the Cromac Distillery in 1899 on the south side of the River Lagan to meet the growing demand. Producing what would become known as McConnell’s Irish Whisky, the brothers helped to establish Irish whisky as the most popular drink in the world. In spite of this success, J & J McConnell suffered two significant fires – the first at their Ravenhill Road mill in 1907 and subsequently at their Dunbar Street warehouse in 1909. Despite these setbacks it wasn’t until Prohibition outlawed the sale of liquor in America in the 1930s, that the business was forced to close. Over 90 years later, the oldest whisky brand in Northern Ireland has been reborn through the endeavours of the Belfast Distillery Company.

Like Architects were commissioned to develop a working distillery and visitor centre for the Belfast Distillery Company within Crumlin Road Gaol, a Grade A listed building designed by Sir Charles Lanyon. Constructed in 1845, the building comprises 4 linear prison wings arranged in a radial fashion off a central entrance block. The building was finally closed to prisoners in 1996 with only the Gatehouse, Governor’s Corridor and ‘C Wing’ being repurposed as a visitor and conference centre.

The distillery and visitor centre is located within ‘A Wing’ of the Gaol – this presented a number of unique challenges. Notwithstanding its listed status and historic relevance, the building’s elongated proportions were not immediately suited to the installation of large scale tanks and equipment. Furthermore, the cellular nature of the building did not readily permit alteration, where 2 foot thick stone walls were found to be reinforced with steel mesh.

Measuring 13m by 81m internally, the 3 storey wing originally accommodated 58 cells per floor, all of which flanked a central top lit atrium space. Slate walkways and linear staircases connect each floor and provide direct access to each cell.

At the outset, the design approach sought to interweave the parallel programmes of visitor experience and the distilling process throughout each floor. Despite its Grade A status, permission was uniquely granted by Historic Environment Division to alter the internal layout in order to accommodate both building programmes.

At ground floor level a number of cells were removed and a series of sculptural ‘V’ shaped columns installed to create a more open plan layout, accommodating reception, shop, and a gathering space for the commencement of tours. Half of the ground floor has been given over to public use and the other half to the process of distilling. Where cell walls were removed, the design of the floor tiling references the original footprint of each prison cell.

The tour officially commences at first floor level, where visitors learn about the history of the McConnell’s brand and are led on the journey through the distilling process. The second floor includes a whisky tasting and cocktail experience as well as an open plan bar area and function rooms. A newly installed glass lift situated at the circle end of the plan links each floor of the building.

Whisky distilleries are commonly spread out across large warehouses, albeit the process is often a linear one. A key challenge was the delivery of a fully functioning facility within the restricted confines of the building footprint. The requirement to find adequate space to accommodate the sizeable tanks and stills necessitated the localised removal of three floors of vaulted cells – where some of the tanks and equipment extend almost the full height of the building. Prior to commencing demolition, a steel structure had to be constructed to support and restrain the vaulted floors which were integrally linked to the adjoining cell walls. Sections of the existing glazed roof also had to be removed to facilitate the craning in and positioning of the grain handlers, the interspirit receiver and the three copper Forsythe stills which were manufactured and shipped across from Scotland. The narrow atrium void (at 2m wide) within which to manoeuvre these large items required strategic planning by the design team and contractor at the outset. Four of the six washback tanks were built in-situ to avoid the need to remove and reinstate the vaulted floors. A structurally glazed floor has been installed over the stills allowing visitors to appreciate the distilling process from above.

Repairs within the atrium space were sympathetically carried out using traditional materials. The original slate walkways and one of the two main linear staircases within the atrium have been retained and restored, guiding visitors around the atrium and emphasising the route that prisoners would once have taken.

The process of restoration and rejuvenation has been approached in a manner that avoids sanitisation of the past, whilst retaining the essence of what was once a Victorian Gaol. New interventions were treated in strict contrast to original finishes and fittings. All were surface mounted to maintain the integrity of the existing walls, which suits an aesthetic where everything is exposed and on show – similar to the distilling process.

Rooftop vents which had been previously removed were recreated to screen external flues and the integration of building services had to be carefully concealed to preserve the spirit and character of the spaces. Air supply and extract is achieved through existing cell window openings where cell bars were retained externally and louvres discretely installed behind.

With over half of Crumlin Road Gaol now in active use, it is envisaged that B and D Wings will eventually be brought forward for development.

Works commenced on site in August 2022, with a construction programme of 18 months. Representing a £23m investment (including the distillery installation), the project is testament to Belfast Distillery Company’s ambition to bring about the rebirth of McConnell’s Whisky production in Belfast, whilst reusing one of the city’s most unique historic buildings.

Arthur Parke

Like Architects

This article is featured in the July 2024 edition of Perspective magazine, to purchase a copy click here