Building No 70

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

West facing onto parade ground, a single storey, three structural bay, hipped roof building of classical proportion and detailing. Rendered walls painted white on a rendered plinth course painted brown. Central narrower bay with flush gable over, and central ventilator rounded now blocked up and rendered. Protruding keystones still visible on the compass points. Gable flanked on the façade by plain undecorated pilasters. Central sheeted double door with single pane semi-circular fanlight, and two granite steps. Six over six windows to each side. To south upvc, to north timber sash with moulded horns behind bars. End bays are symmetrical about the centre, plaster quoins to corners, eaves half round upvc gutter on corbeled stone. Each bay three windows wide. To the north bay, two windows are blocked up and replaced by ventilators. The third is a sash as described already. To the south, three six over six upvc. Sandstone cills remain (painted). Granite kerbing to concrete footpath in front
with granite open drain beyond edged with cobbles. No chimney on roof. Ridge with decorate roof tiles and end finial. Natural slate.

North elevation is blank apart from returning plaster quoins and plinth course.

East rear elevation contains a small central return with a parapet and hipped roof, topped by a timber ventilator. Ventilator louvered to four sides and topped with a small pyramidal roof. Two timber six over six sashes to north side and flush exit door with rectangular fanlight.

The upvc to south in similar proportion.
South gable blank as north.

The building is situated at the edge of the parade ground and commands fine views of the city beyond.

Historical information

Building constructed between 1891 and 1904 following the purchase of land to the west of the original fort. This allowed the removal of temporary barrack accommodation on the site to permanent premises to the rear. The design of the new building complied with the rigid symmetry and architectural style of the existing buildings around the parade ground and was complemented by an identical building on the opposite side of the central accommodation block (Numbers 67, 68 and 69). This building was demolished in the early 1970s. The building was built as administrative office accommodation.

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

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

West facing onto parade ground, a single storey, three structural bay, hipped roof building of classical proportion and detailing. A simple but picturesquely designed single story office building in a restrained classical style. The building sits well with its neighbours around the parade ground at Ebrington and though of later date is a considered part of that group. The blocking of windows and demolition of its twin have reduced its character however and it is not considered to meet the special interest test required for statutory protection. It does retain a strong composition and permits views from the city to the officers mess behind (HB01/09/002K). It is also of interest as part of the historical development of the site.