Ballymacallion Former School

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A derelict former 1 storey single classroom school, gabled, with single chimney stack on S gable and another on the E wall.

S gable has a semi circular headed centrally placed window with chimney at apex with sandstone cap. Walls smooth rendered. W wall 3 bays long with 3 former square headed windows. W gable is obscured by a derelict shed. E wall has a door opening at S end with a chimney in the centre rising from eaves and a projecting gable porch at N end. Roof has slates with several missing. Rainwater goods non existent. E and W walls finished as S gable.

The building is sited on a small site at the junction of the NE corner of the Legavallon and Gelvin roads. Site is overgrown.

Historical information

John McCluskey in 1821 refers to a classical school in Ballymacallion “all conducted by competent teachers”. Whether this refers to the site of the present derelict school is not clear. A school was established on this site in 1829 by Kildare Street Society at a cost of £25. The O.S. Memoirs states “Schoolhouse built of stone and lime, slated, cost about 32 pounds or 40 pounds including furniture. The Kildare Street Society gave 25 pounds towards building the schoolhouse”.After it ceased being used as a school it was used as a dwelling for a period of time during the 20th. C and was lived in by a local family called McCallion. Its use as a dwelling ceased ,it is thought in the 1960's.
References

Primary Sources
1. O.S. map 1st Edition 1832 Londonderry sh. 25
2. O.S. Memoirs of Ireland Parishes of Co Londonderry IV 1824, 1833-5
Vol. 15 Ed by Angélique Day and Patrick McWilliams (Q.U.B. 1992) p 117, 118.

Secondary Sources
1. Benbradagh 1991 p. 4, 5
2. John McCluskey – Statistical Reports of Six Derry Parishes 1821 p. 87
3. Local information.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

An early 19th century school building in a derelict state with little architectural pretensions. Ceased as a school in 1902 but building has remained relatively undisturbed except for the ravages of time.