Northern Fortifications, Ebrington Barricks, Limavady Road, Londonderry BT47 6HH

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Northern stone defences of the original star fort constructed around Ebrington Barracks in the 1840s made from whinstone (local schist) with sandstone and brick trims. This section consists of one well preserved corner bastion to the north west, a central longer bastion at the midpoint of the wall and the fragmentary remains of the north eastern bastion wall. This section is part a scheduled monument encompasing the whole star fort.

North West Bastion. Forming a courtyard behind number 40(HB01/09/002 T), it has a flat concrete coping and the marks of rifle slits now bricked up. It steps up the slope eastwards before returning in to meet the corner of the modern extension to the building.

Beyond a straight section behind building 35 (HB01/09/002 S), connects to the central bastion. It is topped with a concrete coping with metal supports for barbed wire.

Central bastion. This is located at the rear of the former hospital building (number 49 HB01/09/002 S) and moves out into a shallow ‘v’. Regular rectangular gun loops have been bricked up. The wall rises saw tooth fashion on the eastern part of the ‘v’ reflecting the roofs of the now gone buildings on the other side. On the western side there is a short stretch of hogs back coping before stepping up again and then again to the west. The bastion is enclosed as a courtyard created by the former hospital (number 49 HB01//09/0029 S), building 46 (HB01//09/002 T), and to the east a return in the wall with original pigs back sandstone coping which runs south towards the parade ground. On the parade ground between the former hospital , number 46, and this return wall ,is a similar height wall with openings into the yard (see description in HB01//09/002 S).

To the east beyond the bastion the 1841 wall has been removed. The boundary wall was rebuilt six metres to the north probably between 1870 and 1900 and this wall is parallel to the angle of the bastion. It returns to meet part of the outside of the’v’ of the central bastion at a perpendicular junction. It is also constructed of whinstone with brick trims and of similar height. Defensive rifle loops are absent and a wide (but high) segmental headed window opening is located in the return wall.

North East Bastion. To the eastern end of the later wall is a change in direction and the wall takes the line of the original bastion wall and is very likely to be it. This wall is party obscured by buildings 61 and 62 (HB01//09/002 N).

Historical information

The walls are part of the original design and construction of the fort. They have been altered in a minor way since along three quarters of their length .Original defensive loops for rifles have been bricked up. (Probably as part of the alterations and expansion of the late nineteenth century). The wall has been part demolished along the remainder. On the 1854 map a magazine is indicated behind the hospital in the central bastion and a small building is indicated at the corner of the north west bastion (both now gone). The north east bastion is clearly the stables area and exercise yard. By 1904 the alterations and removal of walls along the eastern portion of the wall has been carried out and new buildings have been constructed along the perimeter. The wall appears unchanged after that time to the interior of the fort, but during the Twentieth century suburban dwellings fronting onto Browning Drive have progressively occupied the area outside the wall to the north.

Under the walls the ground may cover the earlier remains of the siege fortification of Col O’Neills cannon battery from the 1690’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 2003.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Northern stone defences of the original star fort constructed around Ebrington Barracks in the 1840s made from whinstone (local schist) with sandstone and brick trims. This section consists of one well preserved corner bastion to the north west, a central longer bastion at the midpoint of the wall and the fragmentary remains of the north eastern bastion wall.

Important remains of the original ‘star fort’ defences of Ebrington Barracks unchanged since construction along much of their length. Of architectural interest for their appearance and relationship to the rendered buildings and parade ground behind. The plan, though an adaptation of a standard type for the period, has been carefully designed to cope with the steep drop to the river’s edge while maintaining a defensive appearance. Historically it is of interest as the only star fort from the mid nineteenth century constructed in Northern Ireland and as a late development in military fort planning. Its symbolic value to the city across the river is of note and the involvement of the base in the Second World War and subsequent submarine training.

It is considered appropriate to protect this structure as a scheduled historic monument.