Building Number 4

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two storey whinstone barrack block. Eight bays long with gabled break front return at each corner and smaller break front gabled return on the second bay from each end. Two entrance doors in the ground floor of the smaller break fronts. These have a segmental head and single pane fanlights. The doors are sheeted timber painted. Painted brick trims surround all openings on the façade which are symmetrically disposed. One six over six pvc window to each bay at ground and first floor. The end bays have paired windows with painted brick surrounds, each containing a six over 6 pvc sash.

At high level there are sandstone vent slots to each end gable. There are also sandstone copings to the gables. The bulding has a sandstone plinth course and sandstone quoins - a softer material than the whinstone to form corners and trims. There are cast iron rainwater goods and a man made slate roof. Faint remains of paintwork notices remain on façade. No chimneys.

South elevation – projection of fire flue with sandstone trims cut off at roof level – ventilation in stack. Central brick trimmed double leaf door (brick trims left unpainted to this gable). No fanlight in segmental opening. . Paired window above. Two windows to rear – one at ground, one aligning above. Metal fire escape.

To rear 4 flat-roofed returns in stone with brick trim. These are of a slightly later construction because the original gable can be seen s 3 metres back towards building. (toilet extensions).Two windows ground and first to end of each return 6 over 6 with a central smaller window on the end returns. Sand cement rendered garage to rear.

North elevation – matching south. Chimney removed here also.

Historical information

Building built as a barrack block in 1875 as part of the first phase of expansion of Ebrington Barracks beyond the original fort. A similar block to the west existed until the late 1970s but was subsequently replaced by building number 6. The building has been utilised as offices for a considerable period, as evidenced by the fading paintwork signs. Formerly the divisional drafting office, it is was the barracks post office at the time of survey.

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

Two storey whinstone barrack block. Eight bays long with gabled break front return at each corner and smaller break front gabled return on the second bay from each end. An imposing rubble stone building at the former main entrance to Ebrington Barracks, which retains much internal detail. The most significant part remaining of the first phase of expansion of the Barracks southward in 1875, it contributes to the historical and architectural character of the base.