Battalion Headquarters, South Africa St. Lucia’s Barracks

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A detached multi-bay two-storey former barracks hospital, built 1881 probably by contractors Messrs. Colhoun Brothers of Derry to designs by Mr. James H. Buttler, C.E., located on the east side of the St Lucia’s Barracks parade ground, east of Barracks Lane. T-shaped on plan, facing west; gabled breakfront bay to west abutted by a lower two-storey gabled entrance porch; single and two-storey returns to north with modern extensions (of no interest); two-storey square tower to south-east corner, additional modern abutments to south and east (of no interest).

Hipped natural slate roofs, rolled lead ridges, dressed stone paired chimneystacks with terracotta pots, ogee-profile cast-iron gutters, round cast-iron downpipes. Walling is coursed squared rock-faced local limestone over chamfered plinth course having sandstone platbands at sill and lintel levels and chamfered eaves course. Window openings are square-headed with uPVC casements, dressed sandstone surrounds and projecting stone sills.

Principal (west) elevation has a projecting gabled left bay abutted by the porch at left and having slender paired window openings to each floor at right; both gables are raised on kneeler stones; with windows to right and left cheeks. To the first floor of the entrance porch is a tripartite window opening (with painted timber plaque “SOUTH AFRICA” affixed to lintel). Square-headed door opening with raised-and-fielded double-leaf timber door, (faded painted lettering spelling “HOSPITAL” on lintel and relieving arch over). Remainder to right is three windows wide, extended by a further two windows to the south, c.1990 with matching materials.

North elevation is abutted by return; exposed section is blank. Return left end is gabled two storey abutted by stone stairs ascending to first floor and extension (both of no interest), return right end is single-pitched single storey.

Rear (east) elevation is abutted to left end by south-east tower and boiler house and modern extension (of no interest) to left. Exposed section has a variety of windows and gabled two-storey breakfront to right. Tower has a variety of heightened windows.

South elevation is abutted to left end by modern extension (of no interest) accessed by modern staircase ascending to first floor; exposed section has variety of heightened windows.

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

To east of former hospital are two single-storey stores, one a former infectious ward with an orderly’s room attached and the other a former mortuary. Both have pitched natural slate roofs, aligned north-south, walling detailed as former hospital, variety of square-headed timber sashed windows and replacement square-headed timber doors. Store (former infectious ward) to north has catslide orderly’s room annex to west and lean-to addition to south gable; store (former mortuary) to south has blocked sandstone carriage arch.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling : Local limestone
Windows: UPVC casements
RWG: Cast-iron / uPVC on stores

Historical information

The “Battalion Headquarters-South Africa,” formerly called the “Hospital” and the “Building 03-Store” and “Building 04-Store,” formerly called the “Infectious Ward” and “Mortuary,” respectively, were all built 1881, probably by contractors Messrs. Colhoun Brothers of Derry.

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 16 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 hospital contains three wards with beds for 26 patients, a surgery waiting quarters for the hospital—sergeant, kitchen, etc.

“At the rear are two isolated buildings—one the infectious ward, containing two beds with an orderly’s room attached, the other being the mortuary.”

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
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

A detached multi-bay two-storey former barracks hospital, built 1881 probably by contractors Messrs. Colhoun Brothers of Derry. This substantial hospital has fine proportions and style and forms an important element in the architectural complex of the Barracks. Although alteration has taken place, along with the loss of fenestration the building retains its fine Victorian masonry craftsmanship and robust style. The two stores at the rear have been altered but retain original windows and one has a blocked carriage arch of sandstone that adds interest to the otherwise plain buildings; both structures are closely linked to the former hospital. 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

Preciouly recorded as HB11/09/005 - This record was submitted as HB11/09/005 D and has now been renumbered HB11/09/005 E