Largy County Primary School

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

The school is sited approximately 200 metres north of the junction of Drumrane and Polly’s Brae Roads and in line with the latter with a hedge lined straight avenue leading to the school, which is surrounded by mature trees. To the rear of the school there are various extensions and temporary classrooms and a block of outside toilets.

A single storey stone built two classroom school with 1½ storey teacher’s residence at eastern end with natural slated roof extending over the whole. Seven bays wide with gables, the two classrooms occupy five bays. Originally the building had two gabled entrances, one to the school and the other to the residence, the latter is still intact, the former has lost its gable. Each entrance gable projects forward a little. Diagonal shouldered buttresses on each side of the former school entrance, while the residence has square quoins with bold stepped barges. The school windows are all in line with a straight continuous sandstone string course which forms cill and a higher continuous string course which steps up to form a hood moulding to each window. The entrance to the residence is placed centrally in its gable. It has a moulded sandstone trim, three pointed arch, square label moulding and above a straight string course lining with that of the school windows. Above the doorway is a two light casement square headed window with six Georgian panes each with a stepped hood moulding which continues to the quoins and is in line with the roof eaves. Above that again a small recess with plain surround for plaque. The window of the seventh bay, (i.e. to the residence) has a lower cill line with stepped label moulding, sandstone trim and window divided into four panes and sliding sash type. Each window to the classrooms is divided into 12 panes. Each main gable has a pair of similar sized windows but these are sub-divided into four panes. Above on the gable each has a glazed trefoil with sandstone trim. Walls are built of schist random rubble which makes a pleasing contrast with the soft coloured sandstone trim. The whole makes a charming composition.

To the rear the gabled projections are repeated and the elevation has been interrupted by roughcast rendered 1939 extensions, though the rear porches to the classrooms are earlier. The slated roofs have several courses of slates with angle cuts making a typical victorian pattern. The extension is an addition to the residence and boiler room and tall chimney to the school porch.. Iron guttering is supported on sandstone corbels and downpipes.

Historical information

Erection of the school began in 1858 and it opened in 1859 and was probably instituted by the Alexander family who would have donated the site and contributed towards building costs. The architect may have been one of the Given family. The school became a Public Elementary School under the Londonderry and Limavady Regional Education Committee. The school was improved in 1939 when central heating was provided, the pupils entrance to the front changed to a window and the fireplaces were blocked off. The residence was improved with an extension to the rear around a former projection, the doorway from the residence to the school was blocked off, and additional storage spaces were added to the rear. The architect was C S Agnew, Ministry of Works architect. Under the Western Education and Library Board after the 1947 Education Act the school was maintained but nothing done to change the architectural character. School meals outbuilding erected and two mobile temporary classrooms in the early 1980s. Mr Clements related a story of flags being erected on surrounding low hills to find the most prominent site before the foundation..

Entrance pillars and gates were erected in 1939 at the main road with metal commemorative plaque and post-box incorporated. Post-box has V & R on either side of embossed crown i.e Victoria Regina.

References:

Datestone
Drawing on linen of 1939 signed C S Agnew
Mr Clements Principal

Ordnance Survey Memoirs Vol. 25 (Landowner & previous school)
Griffith’s Valuation 1858 (comments that building is not yet completed and therefore not valued).

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest
Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance
Z. Rarity

Evaluation

This building has national and local interest, is of social importance and of a type that is becoming more rare as years pass. The school is still in use.

A good example of a mid Victorian school in Tudor gothic style influenced in design by the landlord with characterful ornamentation, overall pleasing appearance built in good materials (slated roof, random rubble stonework, sandstone trim),and handled in an imaginative manner. The plan form, though simple, illustrates the close relation between class and teacher. Alterations to the main facade have been handled sensitively and the setting of the building has been enhanced over the years as the trees and hedges matured . It forms a pleasing vista from Polly’s Brae Road.

To the rear of the school, inappropriate school meals kitchen, two mobile classrooms, tall chimney to school boiler.