The Auld School Centre

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached single storey seven-bay former school house building. Built c.1928 to the design of William J Doherty. Rectangular on plan, principal elevation faces East to the West side of Temple Road.

Pitched natural slate hipped roof with clay roll top ridge tiles and central bay having a gabled front with small parapet and chimney to front elevation with 2 clay pots; replacement upvc half round guttering fixed to timber fascia.

Principal elevation facing East of rough-cast render painted finish with painted plaster band to window reveals and replacement timber casement windows; central bay having gabled front with recessed semi-circular archway with flat plaster band surround and keystone. Second bay from left former window converted to entrance door covered by metal roller shutter; replacement upvc half round guttering fixed to timber painted fascia.

South elevation of rough-cast render painted finish with no fenestration and small lean to extension to west side.

North gable elevation of rough-cast render painted finish and a double-door opening to right side, boarded up with timber. Lean-to extension to rear with painted timber fascia board.

West elevation to rear of rough-cast render painted finish with one and a half storey central gable with small square top hung metal window with vent fixed over near apex. Timber fascia board to gable. Painted render band below fascia on roof slope, extending to each side cheek of gable. Two door openings to left side of gable (both boarded over with timber). Blank wall to right side. Protruding plastic roof vent at high level on rear roof slope at right side.

Materials:
Roof Natural Slate
RWG upvc
Walling Rough-cast render painted
Windows Timber Casement

Setting:
Located on the West side of Temple Road. Principal elevation faces East with the former St Canice's RC Church (HB01/05/010) to the south east; both buildings situated to the North West of the city of Londonderry, to the south of Strathfoyle village and to the east of the River Foyle.

Historical information

Now known as The Auld School Centre, this structure was built as Enagh Public Elementary School in the 1920s. An earlier school, Enagh National School, had been in existence from the late 1870s with classes held in what appears to have been formerly a private dwelling. On 21 November 1923 the school inspector noted, ‘I trust a new school may soon be built here: it is much needed’.

The school’s manager, Rev. W. B. MacFeely, had already begun to seek support for building a new school. On 14 April 1923 he had written to the Ministry of Education pointing out that ‘The present accommodation for children attending Enagh School is quite inadequate and a new building has become an urgent necessity.’ MacFeely added that the existing school building was only a ‘makeshift’. An extensive file of correspondence, as well as coloured plans and elevations, relating to the building of the new school is available in the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (ED/14/E/269).

The new school was built on a site immediately adjoining that of the existing school. Clear title to the site was provided by the landowner, Francis Dolan. The architect of the school was William J. Doherty. A tender for building the school was issued in February 1926. The contractor was James Deeny of Dungiven and the contract price was £1,909 14s. 3d. The final cost of building the school came to £2,014 18s. 9d. In March 1928 MacFeely reported that the ‘new school is practically ready for occupation’ and it seems to have opened soon after that.

In January 1975 a new school, St Oliver Plunkett Primary School, opened in Strathfoyle, replacing Enagh Primary School. In more recent times the building has been used as a community facility.

References

Primary sources
1. PRONI, Valuation map, c. 1908–c.1918, VAL/12/D/5/14D (based on Ordnance Survey map published in 1907)
2. PRONI, Ordnance Survey map, 1933, OS/6/5/14/4
3. PRONI, Ordnance Survey map, 1954, OS/6/5/14/5
4. PRONI, Ordnance Survey map, 1965, OS/6/5/14/6
5. PRONI, Valuation Revision Books, 1860-1930, VAL/12/B/32/12A-F
6. PRONI, First Northern Ireland General Revaluation Books: Annual Revision Lists, 1936-57 – VAL/3/C/6/9
7. PRONI, Second General Revaluation Records, 1956-72, VAL/4/B/5/23
8. PRONI, Enagh Public Elementary School correspondence file, 1923-31, ED/14/E/269
9. PRONI, Enagh National School correspondence file, 1924-5, ED/14/E/153
10. PRONI, Inspector’s Report Book, Enagh School, SCH/1356/5/1

Online sources
1. Dictionary of Irish Architects: www.dia.ie
2. Website of St Oliver Plunkett Primary School: www.saintolivers.com

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Detached single-storey seven-bay rough-cast rendered former schoolhouse with natural slate hipped roof. Built c.1928 to design of William J Doherty, located on the west side of Temple Road, Strathfoyle. It is worthy of record but there is not sufficient historic fabric or detailing to merit listing and does not meet the test as a building of special architectural or historic interest.