Welcome to the Verbal Arts Centre virtual tour of course we would like to meet you personally but for the time being we would like to show you around this unique venue once described as “a beacon of light in a town that has suffered.” We hope you enjoy this tour and look forward to seeing you.

Approaching the Centre

To enter the Centre from its Stable Lane entrance you will pass Bishop Street car park not two hundreds yards from the Centre and the Freemasons Hall that was the former Bishop’s Palace and home to Mrs. Cecil Frances Alexander , wife of Bishop Alexander (1867-96) and the famous hymn writer who lived here until her husband was transferred to Armagh in 1896 as Primate of all Ireland.

Symbols

Buildings express symbolic meaning and this building situated in the heart of the city on the corner of the City Walls) through its conservation and re-creation honours a past that has associations with the practice of Verbal Arts. The Centre’s doors open to the North, South, East and West signifying that all are welcome.

Stable Lane entrance

You are now standing at our Stable Lane entrance. As you can see this red brick building adjoins the historic walls of the City of Derry adjacent to the Bishop’s Gate. The cornerstone of the Centre taken from the Dalriada rift at Drum Ceatt was laid by Professor John Montague (Ireland Chair of Poetry). As we approach attention is drawn to the wrought iron railings designed by Gerald Pullman . The jaunty style of his work is reflected in other areas of the building.

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