St. Lucia’s Club

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A detached single-cell single-storey stone barracks, built c.1910, located on the east side of the parade ground, east of Barracks Lane. Rectangular on plan, gable-fronted facing west; modern extension and boiler house to east (both of no interest); addition with single-bay linking block to north (of no interest).

Pitched natural slate roofs, blue/black angled clay ridge tiles, dressed sandstone chimneystacks, ogee-profile cast-iron gutters (uPVC on extensions). Walling is coursed squared rubble rock-faced local limestone over chamfered plinth, eaves course, dressed platbands at lintel levels and quoins. Windows are square-headed painted timber 6/6 sashes, dressed surrounds and sills with relieving arches.

Principal (west) gable has square-headed replacement timber and glazed door with plate glass overlight to left end, window to right end, with cement-rendered blocked bipartite window to apex.

North elevation is abutted by linking block (of no interest); exposed section right end has two windows, left end has two windows.

East gable is abutted by extensions (of no interest); exposed section apex has cement-rendered blocked bipartite windows.

South elevation is five windows (those to right are replaced with modern casements).

Setting:-
St. Lucia's Club is situated within the enclosed St. Lucia’s Barracks complex at the east side of the parade ground with clockwise from block, Sergeant’s Mess Hall (HB11/09/005D), Battalion Headquarters, South Africa and two stores (HB11/09/005E), Guardroom (HB11/09/005F), Army Recruiting Centre (HB11/09/005G), the Officer’s Mess Hall (HB11/09/005A), and the Waterloo and St. Lucia’s Barracks Block (HB11/09/005B).

Roof: Natural slate / metal profile sheeting / black precast concrete tiles on extension
Walling : Local limestone / cement rendered extension
Windows: Timber / UPVC casements
RWG: Cast-iron / uPVC on extension

Historical information

The St Lucia Club was built c.1910.

The barracks, presently known as St. Lucia’s, were built for the Royal Inniskilling Fusilier Regiment under the direction of Mr. James H. Butler, C.E., the superintending officer of the Royal Engineer Department by the contractors Messrs. Fulton of Belfast and Messrs. Colhoun Brothers of Derry. The original buildings were “built of the local limestone, with Dungannon grit-stone dressings [and] all the external walls are brick lined as preventative to damp….” (Tyrone Constitution 16th December 1881).

The buildings first appear on an 1882 ordnance survey town plan of Omagh captioned “Infantry Barracks”. The “Old Barracks” are captioned behind the gaol (HB11/09/005A, B, D, E and F).

In 1879, a new entry is made in Annual Revision records, “Northern range of new Military Barracks, consisting of regimental shops and stores, Paymasters Office, soldiers quarters, Militia Office and Bread Store, Regimental Shop and meat store. Central Military Station. Northern Division. £265. Also commanding officers and orderly room, guard room &c. £35.” A marginal note records: “45x45x24 – 1 storey, 270x25½ - 3 storeys. Cost estimated 14,000, extras 1,500, total about 15,500. Chisel dressed limestone with freestone coins built by Fulton of Belfast and a further contract of £25,000 has been taken by Cahoon of Derry.” In 1881, a further addition is made: “Eastern & Western Division £500.”

The Tyrone Constitution of 16th December 1881 reports that “some years ago the government purchased a piece of ground at the rear of the old Militia Barracks, Omagh, and on this have been erected buildings to meet all the requirements of a Brigade Depot Barracks…. The works which cost from £30,000-£40,000 have been carried out in a most satisfactory manner….

“In the North angle of the Parade, facing the officers’ mess are erected the hospital and canteen, both large and elegant blocks….

“The canteen is a very commodious building, on the ground floor it contains the shop and tap with separate entrances, off the tap is a large tap room.

“On the upper floor are the Recreation room, with coffee bar attached, and the reading room, both of which are reached by a separate entrance from the parade. On this floor also are quarters for the canteen-Sgt. and librarian.

“By another door further on the right we enter the Sgts. Mess. The Mess room is large and commodious, a passage at the end of the room leads to the kitchen, cooks quarters, larder store, scullery, etc. An extensive drill-shed has been erected, also a laundry and infant school, in the old barracks enclosure.

References:
Primary Sources
1. OS/8/40/1/1-5 – Ordnance Survey Town Plan of Omagh (1882)
2. VAL/12/B/41/36A-H – Annual Revision Records (1860-1903)
3. VAL/12/E/186/1/2-3 – Annual Revisions Town Plan (1882-1909)

Secondary Sources
1. Coey, Alastair. “St. Lucia’s Barracks, Omagh, Condition Report.” (February 2007). Prepared for the Ministry of Defense. Belfast: Alastair Coey Architects, 2007.
2.“Col. George B. Stokes” “Tyrone Constitution.” 28 October 1881. Quoted in Mitchell, Haldane, ed. “Images of Omagh and District.” Vol. 6 (Omagh: Rotary Club of Omagh, 1998), p.22.
3. Core, John. “Historical Record of the 2nd (Now 80th), Or Royal Tyrone Fusilier Regiment of Militia, From the Embodiment in 1793 to the Present Time.” Omagh: Alexander Scarlet, 1872.
4. Elliott, Wesley J. “The History of the 5th (Territorial Army) Battalion The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers” in Haldane Mitchell, ed. “Images of Omagh and District.” Vol. 7. (Omagh: Rotary Club of Omagh, 1999), p.152-155.
5. Mitchell, Haldane, ed. “Images of Omagh and District.” Vol. 2. Omagh: Rotary Club of Omagh, 1991.
6. Mitchell, Haldane, ed. “Images of Omagh and District.” Vol. 6. Omagh: Rotary Club of Omagh, 1998.
7. “New Military Barracks at Omagh.” “Tyrone Constitution.” 16 December 1881. Quoted in Mitchell, Haldane, ed. “Images of Omagh and District.” Vol. 6 (Omagh: Rotary Club of Omagh, 1998), p.22.
8. “Omagh Cricket Club – vs. – Royal Iniskilling Fusiliers.” “Tyrone Constitution.” 30 September 1881. Quoted in Mitchell, Haldane, ed. “Images of Omagh and District.” Vol. 6 (Omagh: Rotary Club of Omagh, 1998), p.22.
9. Rowan, Alistair. “North West Ulster: Londonderry, Donegal, Fermanagh, and Tyrone.” Buildings of Ireland Series. Dublin: Penguin Books, 1979.
10. “Soldiers for a New Barracks.” “Tyrone Constitution.” 2 September 1881.Quoted in Mitchell, Haldane, ed. “Images of Omagh and District.” Vol. 6 (Omagh: Rotary Club of Omagh, 1998), p.22.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

The hall was built in a simplified style related to the rest of the complex and has as an Arts and Crafts open-plan hall interior that is in good order. The barracks complex occupies an elevated and imposing site in the town, reflecting an important aspect of the architectural and social heritage of Omagh, as well as strong historic links to The Royal Irish Regiment and The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. The complex is unusual in its completeness and degree of preservation.

General comments

Previoulsy recorded as HB11/09/005 - full report submitted HB11/09/005C included Seargeants Mess Hall and St Lucias Club. Record split and St Lucias Club is now HB11/09/005C