Building Number 67,68,69

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Three storey, 16 bay building in Georgian style with central tower. Three buildings adjoining separated at roof by upstanding gables. Windows equally spaced at upper levels, extra windows at ground floor. To each of the 3 blocks, a central entrance porch. To the south and north, flat roofed. Central porch rises as a clock tower with cupola. Weathercock on top of lead pitched roof with timber modillions to soffit. Each entrance is in the north side of the block (and not to the front) with arched head and painted and stone surround. Single pane fanlight and double panelled floor. Three granite steps to entrance.

PVC rainwater goods and 6 over 6 Georgian style pvc windows.

Ground floor windows to north block, 3 no to north side of door with two on first floor above. Four to south side with two to first floor. Central block – three to each side with two above. South block – two to north side as above, three to south.

North Gable Blank with projecting flue

To rear, each block has a central projecting 3-storey return with smaller windows likely to toilets. Two windows flank to each side of returns with boiler store at ground floor. Cut stone cills.

South Gable is blank.

Roof to northern block is in concrete tile. The other two blocks retain their natural slate roofs.

Historical information

Built as part of the initial phase of construction of Ebrington Barracks in 1841, though the porches and tower to the parade ground are not indicated until the 1873 Ordnance Survey Map. The toilet extensions to the rear are first indicated on the 1955 Ordnance Map though chamfered door openings inside suggest an earlier date in the century circa 1900’s as elsewhere on the site. In the 1955 map, the building is connected at the northern end to the single storey building (number 70) to the south. This building is removed by 1977. The building is indicated on the 1854 map as Soldiers’ Quarters. It fulfiled the same function at the time of survey in 2003. Originally there would have been open dormitories to either side of the central stairs. It housed 140 people in 2003.

References-
Primary sources

Ordnance Survey Maps 1831, 1854, 1873, 1904, 1933, 1955
O’Hagan’s Map of Londonderry 1847
Derry Journal 6th April 1841 ‘Notice to Builders’

Secondary sources

History of Ebrington Barracks (Anonymous, circa 1970’s) EHS files
Current site officer.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A three storey, 16 bay building in Georgian style with central tower. The key building of the Ebrington Barracks in visual terms. The tallest building located at the centre of the parade ground, with a central clock tower, it is designed to be seen from the city at the opposite side of the river. It is well proportioned and robustly detailed, befitting its function. Its historic character has been diminished somewhat by the insertion of PVC windows and the replacement of one roof. It is an important component part of the base. Its function as part of the base is of historic interest.