First Derry Primary School (AKA Verbal Arts Centre)

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two-storey red brick former school building with stone dressings built 1894 in Queen Anne Revival-style to designs by William Edward Pinkerton. Rectangular on plan with a modern red brick extension to the east side completed along with refurbishments in 2000 to designs by Hall Black Douglas Architects. Steeply pitched slate roof with stone copings and a small cupola surmounted by a decorative weathervane with the letters V.A.C. Situated partially on the City Walls to the south end overlooking Bishops Gate to the east and Double Bastions and Creggan Hill view beyond to the west side. Built originally as a Primary School for the First Derry Presbyterian Church, replacing the Blue Coats School on Magazine Street of 1733, the Verbal Arts Centre acquired the building in 1995.

Principal elevation faces north onto Stable Lane, just off Bishop Street Within, overlooking the former Bishop's Palace and gardens (gardens now a car park); walling is laid in 'English Garden Wall bond' with stone dressings, six semicircular headed bays on ground floors, five bays have planar glazing panes, right side bay having a plain glazed door opening, left side bay to the east side of elevation contains a pair of modern vertically sheeted timber doors with timber vertically sheeted panels to either side, galvanised railings to four window bays on ground floor; moulded stone string-course to red brick piers between bays with a moulded surround, roll moulding and keystone centred on semicircular arch above; stone mullions to multi-pane square-headed windows on first floor levels with quarter-roll moulding to reveals, stone lintel and sills, stone moulded string-course between ground and first floor level. Pedimented window to first floor level, off-centred to the right side projecting above roof line with a stone broken pediment flanked by brick piers to either side topped by a stone ball finial detail, square-headed window with stone mullions recessed within a semicircular arch with quarter-roll moulding. Projecting symmetrical gable-end bay to right of front elevation is of red brick with stone string-courses to ground and first floor levels, detailing to ground floor window of the same as first floor on left side bays, square-headed first floor window is much more elongated surmounted by a semicircular arch with stone moulded surround, quarter-roll moulding and keystone, carved date stone to centre of arch with '1894' engraving; brick piers to either side of window bays and to either side of elevation topped by a stone cornice and finial detail, decorative red brick chimney stack centred on gable end with scrolled stone detail to lower section and a stepped red brick cornice; moulded copping stone to gable ends; recessed stone plaque with inscription 'First Derry National School' between ground and first floor levels.

East elevation has a double gable end red brick extension with kneeler stone to the north and south side at eaves level, stone copping and a slightly projecting red brick apex end detail with stone cornice centred on ridge of each gable, stone string-courses on north and south elevations return onto gable ends; left side gable end is concealed on ground floor level by an un-coursed high stone wall accessed via galvanised railings to the north side; modern signboards to stone wall and gable wall between string-courses; narrow tall window on first floor level has a single glazed pane with galvanised railings to a small semicircular galvanised steel balcony; right side gable has a large elongated multi-pane window with stone mullions, stone sill and lintel surmounted by a semicircular arch with a recessed red brick centre.

South elevation abuts city walls, overlooking Bishop Street Without to the south end with a recessed gable end to the left side surmounted by a small stone pediment, fenestration pattern and detailing is the same to that of north elevation; two semicircular arched headed bays on ground floor with keystones and string-course between bays, right side bay has a vertically sheeted timber door opening directing onto city walls, left bay has a timber frame window with a central large glazed pane flanked by margins panes on either side; brick piers between first floor windows topped by a stone cornice and finial, central pedimented bay on first floor has a semicircular arch with a recessed brick centre and two narrow blind slit openings above, west side of elevation red brick wall is ramped following the line of the contours leading to a former main entrance from Double Bastion on the west elevation; wall headed red brick dormer window with stone dressings to east side extension, small window opening to the right side of dormer on first floor level with a vertically sheeted timber door on ground floor level.

Symmetrical West elevation facing onto Double Bastion overlooking Creggan Hill beyond the city walls, five bays wide with a pedimented central bay containing a large elongated multi-pane window on first floor level surmounted by a semicircular arch with moulded stone surround, roll-moulding and keystone centred over a carved date stone of '1894', scrolled stone detailing to lower section of pediment above with central carved stone plaque; red brick piers between bays with stone cornice and stone finials, stone string-course above and below ground and first floor windows; all windows have stone mullions, lintel and sill with open-able top pane, painted stone dressings on ground floor windows; cast-iron circular downpipes recessed into brick piers on either end of elevation; recessed red brick entrance bay on right side contains a semicircular arched opening with stone dressings and keystone, galvanised railings to entrance; red brick piers to either side or arch with stone string-course above and a pedimented stepped stone cornice with stone plaque to the centre below cornice, piers have stone finial (partially broken), first floor has a small window with stone mullions dividing into three individual panes with stone string-course above and a stone plaque with carved 'Burning Bush' motto with inscription 'Ardens Sed Virens', stepped gable end above with projecting stone cornice.

Replacement slate to pitched roofs with terracotta clay ridge tiles, small cupola with lead detailing and vents to north elevation, centred on ridge, small dormer main pitched roof facing south with slate pitched roof and terracotta clay ridge tiles; two large red brick chimney stacks with clay pots, centred on ridge to west side gable end of north elevation and set back, centred on ridge to the south

Materials:
Roof Slate
RWG Cast Iron
Walling Brick
Windows Timber casements

Setting:
Located on the south side of Stable Lane off Bishop Street Within, with principal elevation facing north onto Stable Lane overlooking the former Bishop's Palace and gardens. South elevation provides access directly onto the City Walls with Bishop's Gate and St. Columb's Cathedral and churchyard immediately to the east side. West elevation faces onto Double Bastion overlooking the west side panoramic view of the city with the River Foyle to the north.

Historical information

The Verbal Arts Centre, a two-storey red brick Queen Anne Revival-style, was constructed on the city walls near Double Bastion in 1894. The building was originally constructed as a schoolhouse for Londonderry First Presbyterian Church (HB01/19/015A-B) and was administered under the National School System. By the late-19th century the schoolhouses located to the side and rear of the church could no longer accommodate the growing number of schoolchildren and in c. 1891 the current site between Stable Lane and Cunningham Row was acquired for the sum of £850 (the plot was previously occupied by a terrace of houses that stood on the site from at least 1834). The design of the new school was subject to an architectural competition. Fourteen architects entered the competition under aliases such as ‘Derry’ and Roaring Meg.’ The winning design was announced in January 1892 and was by William Edward Pinkerton (whose alias had been ‘Mitchelburn’). Pinkerton (b. 1858) was a local architect who established an independent practice in the city in 1890. The National School on Stable Lane is the first known independent contract by Pinkerton. Gray states that the design of the new school ‘is unusual in Londonderry insomuch as it is influences by Dutch architecture of the 19th century, itself influenced by the Queen Anne style. The style is imbued with a lightness of touch, reflecting, and appropriately so for a building designed to house learning, an underlying desire for freedom of movement and of thought.’ The school was constructed by Joseph Ballantine (Strand Road – UTD), cost approximately £3,600 and was officially opened on 1st November 1894 (Irish Builder, p. 12; Building News, p. 739; Gray, p. 10; DIA).

The Derry Journal noted that the school was constructed of Bridgewater facing brick possessing ‘mullions, transoms, string courses, cornices, finials, and minor architectural features of cement concrete.’ The schoolhouse originally consisted of three distinct schools; the infants occupied the ground floor whilst the boy’s and girl’s schools occupied the first floor. The caretaker resided in an apartment within the building. The Annual Revisions valued the completed school at £100 and initially described it as a ‘Presbyterian National Schoolhouse.’ The Annual Revisions Town Plan (c. 1910) depicted the building along its current layout without the eastern extension that was added in 2000. The first change to the school came in 1922 when, following the Partition of Ireland, the three schools were amalgamated into a single school and a new course was introduced to prepare males who wanted to study at Magee University. In 1929 the name of the school was changed to First Derry Public Elementary. The school was slightly increased in value to £105 under the First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1936-57) but this was further raised £180 under the Second Revaluation (1956-72).

First Derry Public Elementary (known as First Derry Primary School after the 1947 Education Act) was included in the Historic City Conservation Area in 1977. The school house was listed in 1994 and celebrated its centenary in the same year but was closed in 1995 when the schoolchildren were transferred to the new Fountain Primary School. Following the closure of the school, the building was purchased by the Verbal Arts Centre in 1995. The centre carried out a £1.5 million renovation in 2000 to the designs of Hall Black Douglas Architects that included the extension of the building (along its east elevation) and the reorganisation of its interior: ‘The current building project includes the restoration of the exterior and formal first floor spaces, substantial remodelling of the enclosed playground area to form a new reception hall and mezzanine floor, and an extension.’ The centre was designed in order to provide new facilities such as performance and exhibition space, a debating area, library and a recording studio. The renovated centre received a number of awards that included a Civic Trust Award, an RIAI Regional Award and EHS Conservation Award (all granted in 2001). During the Second Survey the former schoolhouse continued to be occupied by the Verbal Arts Centre whose objectives are ‘to advance the education of adults and young people in the areas of the language arts and to enable them to engage and participate in all aspects of the creation and appreciation of the verbal arts and in associated activities’ (Foyle Civic Trust; Buildings at Risk, p. 77; Verbal Arts Centre website).

References

Primary Sources
1. PRONI VAL/12/E/157/1/14 – Annual Revisions Map (c. 1873-1910)
2. PRONI VAL/1/B/547A-F – Townland Valuations (1832)
3. PRONI VAL/1/D/5/9B – Townland Valuation Map (1834)
4. PRONI VAL/12/B/33/5B-5C – Annual Revisions (1898-1929)
5. PRONI VAL/3/B/6/11 – First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1935)
6. PRONI VAL/4/B/5/14 – Second General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1956-72)
7. Irish Builder (1 Jan 1892)
8. Derry Journal (2 Nov 1894)
9. Building News (22 Nov 1895)
10. Ulster Town Directories (1901-1943)
11. First Survey Record – HB01/19/079 (No Date)
12. First Survey Image – HB01/19/079 (No Date)
13. NIEA Pink Files – HB01/19/079
14. Foyle Civic Trust: Living City Project (Stable Lane)

Secondary Sources
1. ‘Buildings at Risk: Some option and solutions and a review’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 2000.
2.Calley, D., ‘City of Derry: An historical gazetteer to the buildings of Londonderry’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 2013.
3.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.
4.Gray, E., ‘First Derry National School Building’ in ‘The Foyle Civic Trust Review’ Londonderry: The Foyle Civic Trust, 1996.
5.Rowan, A. J., ‘The Buildings of Ireland: North West Ulster’ London: Yale University Press, 2003.
6.‘A design guide for the Historic City Conservation Area Londonderry’ Belfast: Department of the Environment, 2012.

Online Resources
1.Dictionary of Irish Architects - http://www.dia.ie/
2.Verbal Arts Centre website - http://theverbal.co/history-sub

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
F. Structural System
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
S. Authenticity
T. Historic Importance
V. Authorship
X. Local Interest
Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance
Z. Rarity

Evaluation

Queen Anne Revival-style two-storey red brick former school built c.1894, to the designs of W.E. Pinkerton for the young choristers of the Londonderry First Presbyterian Church; it has group value in association with the Church and former school (HB01.19.015A&B). Pinkerton won the commission through a competiton and it was his first independent contract. Rectangular on plan with a sensitive red brick extension stitched in to the east. The extension was completed in 2001 to designs by Hall Black Douglas in conjunction with a major refurbishment to convert the building to a Verbal Arts Centre; it won awards from Civic Trust, RIAI and EHS. Located on the south side of Stable Lane just off Bishop Street Within abutting the city walls to the south side. Sufficient detailing to the exterior remains keeping much of its original character and despite interior remodelling, many fine features survive. It is a rare example of red brick Queen Anne Revival-style architecture on a prominent corner inside the City Walls and a significant building that is valued as a social and cultural facility within the Historic City Conservation Area.