Building Number 83

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two storey, 5 structural bay, west facing, brick, purpose built officers mess, with hipped slate roof and painted timber corbel brackets (modillions) along overhanging eaves. Break front gable on central bay with brick pilasters supporting sandstone pediment with painted royal coat of arms. Sandstone modillions under the base of the pediment, align with those under the eaves. Below, two uPVC windows (one over one pane) with roll moulding architrave carved into the brick and segmental head. At ground level a port cohere like structure projects with brick pilasters at each corner and an arch in between. Structure part rebuilt in matching modern brick. Each arch has a projecting keystone. The flat roof of the port cohere is signalled by a cornice and protected by sandstone balusters. Its central arch is accessed from 5 granite steps rising from the roadway . A mosaic is situated under the vaulted space before the main entrance. The main door is a double leaf varnished mahogany 3-panelled door with no fanlight. It is flanked by 2 small windows, each with a sandstone cornice cill detail. There is a decorative brass bell push on either side.

The structural bays to each side of the main entrance bay have paired windows at ground and first floor. They match those already described: one over one uPVC segmental head windows with roll moulding architrave. A canted bay window projects at ground level to each side from the end structural bays. These have a blank brick parapet on top of a sandstone stringcourse. Two round headed one over one pane uPVC windows face the road with a similar window to each sides. Above at first floor are paired windows as elsewhere.

A single storey narrow bay projects to each end of the main façade. These have unadorned parapets aligning with those of the canted bays. A secondary door is inserted in the projection to the south. This is panelled and accessed up 5 granite steps. It is flanked by a low brick wall. The projection to the north contains a single segmental headed window.

At roof level, are 3 chimneys, one on either side of the entrance bay, and one at the top of the rear hip. There are decorative red ridge tiles.

To the south, is a self-contained much smaller two storey 6 bay hipped unit – with central chimney and a central rectangular cast iron spouting. It is linked to main building by flat-roofed block with door. There is a double plinth course in brick around the building.

North Elevation. Two storey block to rear with single storey corner block to front. Two one over one windows at ground level matching front. One small toilet window at high level. Moulded sandstone cornice cill to front bit not rear window. Large return from building approximately to length of front façade set back two meters. This has irregular disposed windows differing widths with granite cills. All are one over one uPVC. Central timber door with six-pane fanlight to north side of return.

Rear East Elevation. Rear elevation of main building has been substantially obscured by later returns and extensions. Four brick chimneys are associated with the main return. Its ridge is lower than the eaves but the main roof is dropped down to meet this. Eaves detail changes from modillions to an ogee gutter onto a moulded fascia. To south, a flat-roofed extension aligns with the side of the central bay and abuts the higher return. Beyond to the west, a single storey pitched roof extending to a flat roof. Extract vents indicate kitchens inside.

To the south, a major return of later date described as building No 83 on the Army map. This is a long L-shaped return brick built which has a separate formal entrance – see description of HB02/09/002L

South Gable. The South Gable of the Officers’ Mess is very similar to the North. However on this elevation the end bay is single storey for the full depth of the plan and does not step up to the rear. The small rear return connecting with No 83 is partly contemporary with the main building . It has a lean-to glazed roof along this stretch a covered area for the officers bar inside.

The discrete extension to the south has a central return it is 3 structural bays wide and has an off centre sheeted door.

Historical information

Building constructed in 1904 as part of the eastward expansion of Ebrington Barracks, a purpose built officers mess it is of a standard design built by the Ordnance Board. In Northern Ireland a similar though larger building exists at Palace Barracks, Holywood (HB23/17/012). ‘British Barracks’ by English Heritage (1999) illustrates a similar building at Aldershot (p188) and reports other examples at Tidworth and Colchester. The ladies annex to the south is first indicated on the 1933 Ordnance Survey map. The rear L shaped extension (building 83: HB01/09/002 L ) was constructed between the 1955 and 1977 Ordnance Surveys. From an assessment of its architectural style it is likely to date from the late 1950’s.

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..
British Barracks 1600-1914, Their architecture and role in society, James Douet, The Stationery Office, London, 1998.

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, 5 structural bay, west facing, brick, purpose built officers mess, with hipped slate roof and painted timber corbel brackets (modillions) along overhanging eaves. A purpose built officers mess of standard design and with the exception of its windows well preserved internally and externally. Well sited on high ground to the rear of the parade square at Ebrington barracks it is an important building in the overall composition of the base and for its historical use.