Building Number 85

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

An L-shaped return behind the Officers’ Mess (HB01/09/002 K). Brick built with details suggestive of the 1950s. Main block is parallel to Officers’ Mess and facing west. It is located about 20 meters behind the main block of this building and is of a similar length. Break front entrance gable with reconstituted stone pilasters supporting balcony above. Double-panelled door with fake stone trim and stained glass panel opening onto balcony. Four equally spread window openings to north with thin concrete cill symmetrical distribution to south. Block elevation carries on beyond with small toilet-type windows. At return of ‘L’, roofs are hipped rather than joining.

Return elevation connecting to the Officers Mess (facing north) has similar rectangular windows at first floor and semi-circular headed windows at ground floor (‘ballroom’ behind). There are six bays of windows before a corner and a setback lower connection to the Officers’ Mess

The north gable of the parallel block has a single slit window in glass block, 3 No blocks wide rising full height.

To rear, the west elevation has a regular distribution of 13 windows, before stepping back to a back to a corner block and two windows. Corner of ‘L’ is stepped back to avoid base boundary wall. At the corner a small projection , again this has a full height glass block detail similar to the gable.

To south elevation on return to the Officers Mess is a second formal entrance façade. Central door with break front. Hipped roof over symmetrical four bay composition to each side of central bay. As on north façade behind – there are semicircular windows at ground floor and rectangular windows at first. Entrance door with central fanlight and glass panelled double doors below is flanked by similar height side lights and trimmed in 1950’s style reconstituted stone detail. At first floor, a double window with central reconstituted stone mullion. To the west, another setback with a glass block window before connecting a lower return (the bar with external colonnade) from the Officers’ Mess.

Historical information

Two accommodation blocks built for officers in 1954 with integral ballroom hall for functions. Attached to the rear of the Officers’ Mess.

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

An L-shaped return behind the Officers’ Mess (HB01/09/002 K). Brick built with details suggestive of the 1950s. Complimentary in form to the other buildings on site and creating a small square behind the Officers’ Mess. Of limited architectural or historical interest.