Lecture Hall

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Three-bay two-storey former school building. Built c.1856. Rectangular plan form with reduced scale two-storey rear return.
Located within the grounds, to the north-east side of First Derry Church (HB01/19/15A), with painted wrought iron gate between buildings. Former Primary School building to rear, established c.1773, current building c.1856.

Principal elevation is a mix of Barony Glen and Giffnock sandstone, facing west over-looking city walls with three squared-headed window openings to ground floor and three round-arched windows to first floor, with projecting stone sill course and painted casement windows; stepped chamfered quoins; projecting cornice at eaves level. Recently restored in 2011.

South elevation faces onto adjacent church building with four window openings at ground and first floor level, with side entrance doors to west end with sandstone pediment. Connecting lobby at ground floor level from church at right hand side of south elevation.

East elevation ruled and lined render with reduced scale two-storey smooth plastered return.

North elevation smooth rendered, painted with plain facade facing adjacent car park.

Hipped slate roof set behind low stone parapet with clay ridge tiles. Stone chimney-stack to west end of north elevation with single clay pot.

Cast-iron gutter and downpipes.

Setting:
The lecture hall faces North West to Magazine Street Upper on the West Wall, within urban block directly west of The Diamond, adjacent to First Derry Presbyterian Church (HB 01/19/015A). It is set back from the pavement behind sandstone plinth boundary wall with decorative painted wrought-iron railings and gate.

Materials:
Roof : Natural Slate
RWG : Cast Iron
Walling : Barony Glen & Giffnock Sandstone / Render
Windows: Timber casement & Timber Sliding Sash

Historical information

The lecture hall at First Derry Presbyterian, a three-bay two-storey hall located to the north-east side of the adjoining church, was constructed in c. 1853-56 when it was built as a schoolhouse. The second edition of the Ordnance Survey maps (1853) did not depict the building, however it was recorded in the Annual Revisions in 1860; in that year the valuer set the combined value of the church, a sexton’s house, and its two schoolhouses at £150. Calley states that the building had been erected in 1854; in 1856 Griffith’s Valuation had not recorded either of the schoolhouses, but it did set the value of the church at £150. The schoolhouse had been erected by at least 1860 but the construction of such a large addition would likely have altered the value of the church; as the value remained the same, it is plausible that the schoolhouse was erected between 1853 and 1856.

The two-storey schoolhouse was the second school to be erected at First Derry Presbyterian; to the rear of the church is a single-storey building that was erected in c. 1770-80 when the current Presbyterian church was constructed. Calley states that the single-storey schoolhouse was erected in 1773 as a boys school; the pupils were known as the ‘bluecoats’ on account of the colour of their uniform and received their education in exchange for singing in the church choir (Calley, pp 273-274). The two-storey schoolhouse to the north-east side of the church was established as a girl’s school; a detailed valuation map of Londonderry (c. 1873) recorded that both schools were administered under the National School System and were connected to the church building by either passages or gateways.

The value of both schools was combined with the adjoining church throughout the Annual Revisions (1860-1929) the subsequent General Revisions (1935; 1956-72) making it impossible to gauge the individual value of the building, however the valuers note that the former school was converted into First Derry Presbyterian’s church hall between 1935 and 1956. The lecture hall was incorporated into the Walled City Conservation Area in 1977 and was subsequently listed in 1979. The NIEA HB Records note that a restoration of the hall was undertaken in 1988-90, however in 2002 extensive dry rot and stone damage was found within the adjoining church and both buildings were subsequently closed. A £2.3 million restoration to the church was carried out in 2010-11 which included repairs to the church hall. Both buildings were reopened in 2011; Calley, writing in 2013, recorded that the hall had been ‘recently restored and [is] very attractive except for the attempt to match the casement windows of the church next door.’ Having formerly been connected to the adjoining church, the former school and hall now stands independent of the larger building (Calley).

References

Primary Sources
1. PRONI OS/6/5/20/1 – First Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1830)
2. PRONI OS/6/5/20/2 – Second Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1853)
3. PRONI VAL/2/B/5/16C – Griffith’s Valuation (1856)
4. PRONI VAL/12/E/157/1/14 – Annual Revisions Town Plan (c. 1873)
5. PRONI VAL/12/B/32/11A-11ZD – Annual Revisions (1860-1897)
6. PRONI VAL/12/B/33/1A-1B – Annual Revisions (1897-1929)
7. PRONI VAL/3/B/6/1 – First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1935)
8. PRONI VAL/4/B/5/14 – Second General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1956-72)
9. Ulster Town Directories (1843-1943)
10. First Survey Record – HB01/19/015 (1970)
11. First Survey Image – HB01/19/015 (No Date)
12. NIEA HB Records – HB01/19/015B

Secondary Sources
1. Calley, D., ‘City of Derry: An historical gazetteer to the buildings of Londonderry’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 2013.
2. Ferguson, W. S; Rowan, A. J; Tracey, J. J., ‘List of historic buildings, groups of buildings, areas of architectural importance in and near the city of Derry’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1970.
3. Hume, J., ‘Derry beyond the walls: Social and economic aspects of the growth of Derry 1825-1850’ Belfast: Ulster Historical Foundation, 2002.
4. Kirkpatrick, L., ‘Presbyterians in Ireland: An illustrated history’ Booklink, 2006.
5. Rowan, A. J., ‘The Buildings of Ireland: North West Ulster’ London: Yale University Press, 2003.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
S. Authenticity
X. Local Interest
Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance

Evaluation

Two-storey three-bay former school building built c.1856, located adjacent to First Derry Presbyterian Church within the Historic Walled City on Magazine Street Upper. The principal facade has retained much of its original character, style and proportions and despite casement windows within the rear return, the building remains a fine example of its time. The interior layout has been retained with some modern alterations. Initially established as a girls' school partnered with a boys' school to the rear of the adjacent church, today it serves as a church hall and meeting space, and has group value with the adjacent church (HB01/19/015A). Set back from the street behind stone boundary walling, pillars and decorative iron gates and railings that match those at the Church and all provide a dignified approach and enhance the character of the setting.