Building Number 45,46

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two-storey H-shaped rendered building painted white with gables at each end facing south onto the parade square. Simple classical cornice detailing to the sandstone parapet of each gable with blank plaster roundel below. At first floor the east gable has a central double six over six PVC (formerly sash) window flanked by two six over six PVC windows with painted stone cills.

The western gable has two similar windows centred on the apex. Between at first floor a cast iron balcony with ‘X’ detail balustrade flush with gables. Three windows behind set back 1000mm with cornice detail returning under eaves. At ground floor a flat roofed porch is centred on the eastern gable flanked by two windows. A plain stone stringcourse runs at first floor. A second more modern flat roofed porch sits out from the western end of the central portion with two six over six windows to the west. The base of the western gable has two windows, one blocked to permit a stair inside. The simple stringcourse runs at first floor.

Flanking the building to the east a blocked up gateway with coping engaged with the building and a short section of wall to a central gatepost and coping – gate gone. Beyond is a similar post attached to building 49. Flanking the building to the west a two-storey return sits out from the centre of the west side. Two bays wide. A pitched roof garage building (not included in the formal listing) abuts to the west. The west gable is 7 bays long with first floor cornice to the two-bays of the main block and returning cornice detail at eaves and a simpler detail to the 3 bays of the return. The two-bays to the rear match the front.

The east elevation is four-bays long with parapets ground floor two-bay projection and before dropping 1 metre to a similar length extension largely blank except for two windows abutting the main part of the building.

To the rear this elevation is detailed as the front with plaster rounded and cornice at parapet. Windows are much less structured. The central portion of the H has a ground floor flat roofed extension. The longer west wing is similarly detailed at the gable behind the original boundary wall of the fort continues topped along this section by a concrete pigs back coping and barbed wire.

Historical information

Block to east with gable facing the parade ground indicated on the 1854 Ordnance Survey Map and labelled ‘store’. Built as part of the original construction of the base in 1841. Extension to the west and second longer gabled building facing parade ground first indicated on 1904 map. Further ‘return’ extension to the west first indicated on 1953 ordnance map. Building continued in use as barrack stores and accomodation until 2003.

References-
Primary sources

rdnance 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 (2003).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
H-. Alterations detracting from building
H+. Alterations enhancing the building
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A two-storey H-shaped rendered building painted white with gables at each end facing south onto the parade square of Ebrington Barracks. Simple classical cornice detailing to the sandstone parapet of each gable with blank plaster roundel below.

A well proportioned and carefully designed building which contributes to the architectural character and setting of the parade ground. Its interest is enhanced by its group relationship with the other buildings surrounding the square. Its character has been enhanced by its 1890s extension and more modern extensions do not significantly detract from the composition.