County Primary School

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A single storey 9 bay wide primary school in neo-classical style.

The symmetrical entrance elevation has 5 bay wide central piece with 2 bay wide pedimented projecting wings. The entrance doors, placed in centre of middle part, has a shallow distyle portico with Tuscan columns supporting horizontal frieze and cornice with an additional entablature on top but setback. The door opening has respond pilasters on each side with rusticated reveals. The pair of tall doors have moulded and fielded panels. On each side of the portico, the walls articulated in bays with pilasters. In each bay, a vertical window in 12 panes (windows have been substituted and now in PVC). Above the pilasters a frieze band under corbel course and gutter. The projecting wings are similarly treated but having bold moulded pediments. Each corner, outer and inner have clasping pilasters or the reverse. Walls are smooth rendered painted and plinth. Roof natural slates with plain ridge tiles, pediments have broad barge stones.

The side elevations have similar wall and fenestration treatment with windows coupled in each bay. The pedimented wings are expressed to the rear in like manner and the double banked corridor of classrooms accordingly setback. There have been small additions added to the toilets on each side but done with reasonable care. The double banked classroom rear block terminates in a pair of pedimented gables with flat roof between. These gables are windowless but articulated as before with pilasters. A porch has been added here and beyond a series of temporary buildings. There are two chimney stacks on the ridge of the entrance block.

The school building is set back from the footwalk where there is a boundary wall, piers and railings. The floor level of the school is below the footwalk level so there is a flight of downward approach steps. The front of the school has pleasing lawn with shrubs and small trees. There are pedestrian and vehicle accesses. To the rear of the school building most of the ground is hard play area but it is bound on 3 sides by a handsome high handmade redbrick wall probably the remains of a walled garden. The building line is same as No. 45 next door to the NE (see HB05/14/032).

Historical information

The school was built as a technical school in 1933 and later after World War II became a High School. It became a primary school in 1960. It is constructed within a walled garden of Hugh Boyd's Manor House.

References

Primary Sources
1. School Principal

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

A well maintained example of a 1930s school building designed in a neo classical style with a pragmatic symmetrical functional plan layout. The detailing throughout is good and original and though the school has served a variety of educational levels has been adapted to those changes without much adjustment. The enclosing garden walls maybe the remnants of walled gardens of the Boyd family who established Ballycastle in the 18th cent.