The Olgiby Trust National School

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Single storey Victorian school building with steeply sloping natural slate roof topped by a ventilator with brick facade containing polychrome brick work. Central projecting entrance porch facing north east (as the building) towards the new bus station. Steep pitch over porch which has a much lower eaves. Decorated timber barge. Sandstone plaque: ‘Oligby Trust National School 1897, Drumachose Parish.’ Below polychrome brick string course with angled brick hood moulding stepping up from it over central modern security door. Stepped pattern in brick work under barge (similar to court house HB02/12/007). Guide and Scout Logos painted on brick to either side of door. Two windows to main building on each side of porch, horizontal emphasis, segmental head, four mullions, one transom on upper third aligning with polychrome string course. Angled brick hood moulding over windows. Single window exactly as above on each gable. Decorative barge supported on extended purlins on each gable. Stepped brickwork pattern below. Decorative red ridge tile on roof. Central ventilator nicely detailed.

Small school yard in front of building with low wall and simple railing. Steep slope behind school to Christ Church graveyard above (see HB02/12/001)

Architecture of building is strongly reminiscent of the buildings of the Midland Railway (Magilligan Halt HB02/09/018 or Bellarena Station HB02/09/041 for example). It must have once closely related to Lanyon’s station in Limavady which was located opposite.

Historical information

Built in 1897. Builder James Wray. Site given by Captain Ogilby of Pellipar who is named as landlord of most of the sites from here to the entrance gates of Christ Church in the 1858 Griffiths Valuation. Building in use as a school until mid 1970s and has been used as a scout/guide hall since.

References:
Girvan W D, Buildings of North Derry UAHS
Coleraine Constitution 16 April 1898
Griffiths valuation 1858

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

A pleasant late Victorian school nicely sited around the corner from Main Street with a fine view of Keady Mountain. Good decoration, well proportioned and considered facade. A well preserved example of the type. Of social importance to Limavady because of its association with generations of school children which is maintained by its present use.