Building Number 21, Corporals Mess, Ebrington Barracks, Limavady Road, Londonderry BT47 6HH

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Single storey rubble built building parallel to river facing west. Remains of boundary wall from 1870s on south gable extending to the west. Plinth course at 1.2mm from ground level on west becoming ground level on east. No chimney on natural slate roof but lead ventilation at centre point. Parapet wall to south gable forming former boundary wall. No parapet to north. Windows with red brick trims all irregularly disposed. All timber casements in sash sized openings. Plinth course made of sandstone. Small regular cut sandstone blocks at high level – closing former vents. Windows put in later because in one location sandstone is cut to permit window. To north a set back extension of two structural bays. This is made of brick on a whinstone base. North gable blank. Extension rendered and painted blue to the gable.

Entrance elevation to east sheeted in timber and painted blue. Brick extension painted. At the southern end bay, stone remains with a brick opening. Regular steel column heads poke out at eaves’ level along the timber part of the hut. Windows are horizontal casement-type and regularly distributed, probably dating from the 1940s.

Historical information

Building first indicated on the 1904 Ordnance Survey Map, but part of the first phase of expansion of the base in 1875. The construction noted on the building suggests that it was built as a stable block with high level ventilation and subsequently adapted by the insertion of windows. The removal of the west wall and replacement with a steel structure with timber cladding has removed all earlier internal detail. The building has been in use as a bar from before the Second World War.

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
Site officer at time of survey.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Single storey rubble built building parallel to river facing west. A dignified stone building, which adds to the general historical character of Ebrington Barracks. Part of the first phase of expansion of the base to the south. The southern boundary wall of 1875 is attached to its south gable. Though the development of the building and its unusual steel-framed interior are of interest, the building is not of special architectural or historic interest.