Balteagh Primary School

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Tall single storey classroom block with steeply pitched tile roof apparently flanked by lower flat roofed accommodation which sits out to the front of the building. On closer inspection the accommodation runs along only one side as that to the south east has been cut short to allow large windows to the classrooms. The building is finished in painted harling render, with metal windows and is designed in a 1930s sub-Art Deco style.

The main elevation is symmetrical about a central double entrance door which is two circular concrete steps above the concrete playground. Part of the flat roofed accommodation, its plain surround breaks the line of the parapet and projects slightly beyond the flanking wall. Two tall casements flank the door. Two blocks project one metre from the facade at each end and have a similar centrally placed casement. That to the north west extends along the side of the classroom block, that to the south east as described above stops short. The gable of the classrooms behind the front block is modelled by a chimney flue rising up its centre line terminating in a chimney with concrete coping.

The south east elevation has wide metal windows to the classrooms along most of the facade. To the rear a flat roofed shelter extends to a similarly detailed toilet block at the end of the site. Neither of these buildings are physically connected to the school.

The rear gable is blank. The wall corbels out to the eaves of the roof.

The north west elevation has a regular rhythm of vertical windows to the flat roofed accommodation abutting the classrooms. Four high level windows light the classrooms above the flat roof.

Historical information

Building built during 1930s replacing earlier school next door (HB02/08/012). Used as a primary school until early 1980s. The building was designed by C S Agnew of the N I Ministry of Finance. It is unaltered from the original design.

References:

Historic Buildings Records
Records of Western Education and Library Board

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A nicely considered standard plan school building placed on a flat site which emphasises the rigour and universality of its design. It is a fine piece of 1930s school architecture unaltered and in good repair apart from the vandalising of its window panes. For a small building there is a lot of drama in the plan, from the formal entrance, to the light cast by the closely bunched windows on the side corridor to the tall bright space of the classrooms. Its recent date together with the fact that it is out of use precludes listing. There are other examples of this era of school building ,some still in use.