Building Number 59

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Single-storey brick building similar style to Number 62 (HB01/09/002N) which is also built into the northern boundary wall. Historic portion with hipped natural slate roof and red tiles though now surrounded by more recent lean-to additions.

A brick dentil course is visible along eaves of the eastern end wall, which abuts boundary wall of fort to the north. Area below eaves is blank and partly rendered to the south where the lean –to extends.

To south façade a rendered lean-to with metal roof. Horizontal 1950’s casement windows are equally spaced along the facade and a double timber sheeted door labelled: ‘mattress store’ is located at the eastern end.

To west end a similar dentil course along eaves. No windows to historic portion which is partly obscured by a flat roofed extension to building 57 (HB01/09/002R).

To rear north end the building roof overhangs the north boundary wall which is constructed of whinstone (local schist).

Historical information

Building first indicated on the 1904 map and is likely to have formed part of the expansion of the base of the east following purchase of new lands in 1891. However the boundary wall may he date from the 1870’s for the main post 1891 expansion is surrounded by a much lower brick wall and fence. This connects into a fragment of the original north east bastion to the east. Building photographed at end of 19th century shows columns along front façade which appear to be the inner row of columns flush with the wall above. The three columns closest to the parade ground at the west are open to a low picket fenced area to the front. It is likely that the building was stables or a coach house extended forward in the late 19th century and further extended in the middle of the twentieth century when converted to a storehouse.

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’
Coldstream Guards final parade pamphlet. Army 8th Brigade 2003

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

Single-storey brick building similar style to Number 62 (HB01/09/002N) which is also built into the northern boundary wall. Historic portion with hipped natural slate roof and red tiles though now surrounded by more recent lean-to additions. This is a carefully designed late 19th century stone building set against the northern boundary wall of the fort to the north. The building has been significantly expanded and has lost much of its original character to the exterior however. The column arrangement of its interior is of note and makes a fine architectural space.