Community Hall, 21 Circular Road, Moneymore, Magherafelt

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

An 8 bay long part single storey and 2 storey, stone built community hall, gabled and slated.

The elevation to Circular Road (SE), 8 bays long, from left, 5 no. 4 pane modern windows forming a gabled single storey block, which had been extended from 3 to 5 bays, a connecting porch link with entrance door with corbelled 3 centre arch, door modern with solid timber infill over, 1½ storey 2 bays, 1 bay gabled with ground floor window, chamfered sandstone reveals and centred over a narrower window with similar surround, both with modern inserts. Last bay has a narrow vertical window with chamfered sandstone surround. The gabled bay has large kneelers and asymmetrical weathered barges.

The NE elevation has 2 bays, that on the left has a square headed sheeted door, the other is a gabled bay similar to that on the SE elevation except that ground floor window is a narrow vertical opening, both have modern inserts.

The NW elevation is similar to SE but a modern flat roof single storey extension obscures the gabled bay. Walls of the older part of the building are faced with squared coursed white limestone, with sandstone quoins. The 2 bay extension at the SW end is roughcast unpainted with imitation kneelers and barges. Extension at NW corner finished in smooth rendering unpainted. Roofs steeply pitched, natural slates, chimney stack on ridge of former classroom block.

The building is sited on an unkempt site at the S end of Circular Road near the junction with Conyngham Street and Springhill Road.

Historical information

A former T-plan building occupied the site as shown on the O.S. Map of 1832. The O.S. map 1832 Rev. 1856 shows the present building, describing it as an infant school. The school and teacher’s house was commenced in 1840. Subsequently the building became a hall and was bought by the Catholic Parish for £300 and reverted to school use until the erection of a new school on the Springhill Road in 1973.

References

Primary Sources
1. O.S. Map 1832 Londonderry sh. 46.
2. O.S. Map 1832 Rev. 1856 Londonderry sh. 46.
3. Curl J.S. The Londonderry Plantation 1609-1914 p. 212, 218

Secondary Sources
1. Principal, St Patrick’s Primary School

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A former infant school and teachers residence erected by the Drapers Company and designed by W.J. Booth in a Tudor Gothic style. Though it has been extended it retains the kernel of Booth’s design.