Former Beltrim National School

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached eight-bay single-storey former school, dated 1899. Rectangular on plan, facing east set back on the west side of Glenpark Road within its own grounds.

Pitched natural slate roof with black clay ridge tiles and a central red brick chimneystack. Exposed profiled timber rafter feet to overhanging eaves with cast-iron rainwater goods and profiled timber bargeboards to both gables. Painted rough-cast render walling with drip course. Stone plaque to front elevation stating: ’BELTRIM / NATIONAL SCHOOL / 1899’

Front east elevation comprises six square-headed window openings with painted stone sills and 6/9 hybrid timber/steel hopper windows. Square-headed door opening to either end of front elevation with replacement vertically-sheeted timber doors.

South side gable with single square-headed window opening, as per above.

West rear elevation has six evenly spaced window openings, as per above.

North side gable, as per south gable.

Setting:-
Building is set within a square bitmac site and enclosed on all four sides by rubble stone walls with cement coping. To the rear (west) wall is a lean-to rubble stone structure with single-pitched slate roof, formerly the toilets. The rubble stone wall to the road has a pair of piers constructed in tooled squared stone with tooled capstones and a wrought-iron gate.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: Render
Windows: Timber
RWG: Cast-iron

Historical information

The school first appears on the third edition of the OS map (1905-6) captioned ‘School’. The school yard is shown divided into two halves with a small outhouse to the west, spanning both halves. On the fourth edition (1953) it is captioned ‘Primary School’.

The building is written into the Annual Revision Records in 1906 as a ‘National School and Land’ valued at £11 and 5s for the land. The National Board of Education hold it in fee. In valuers’ notes of 1933 it is described as comprising 2 class rooms and ECs (which may indicate earth closets). At this time there is ‘accommodation for 120 pupils. There are at present on roll 79 pupils.’ The school has dimensions of 79x24x15.

A local history pamphlet contains the reminiscences of a former pupil and an undated photograph of the school together with the ‘Teacher’s residence’ which is shown adjacent to the school. The school is dated to 1899 and the teacher’s residence to 1905. (Meetings and Memories in Lower Badoney, p.41,91)

A parish history notes that the school was called ‘Beltrim Church of Ireland National School’ and writes that it operated as a school from 1899 to 1983. Photographs of the school and former pupils appear, together with a list of teachers at the time of its opening. (Ferguson et al., p.53-57)

References:
Primary Sources
1.PRONI OS/6/6/18/3 – Third Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1905-6)
2.PRONI OS/6/6/18/4 – Fourth Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1953)
3.PRONI VAL/12/B/39/6A-E – Annual Revision Records (1867-1929)
4.PRONI VAL/3/D/7/8W/1 – Valuers RV Binder (1933-1957)

Secondary Sources
1.Gortin and District Historical Society. “Meetings and Memories in Lower Badoney” 1995
2.Ferguson, George Eric, June Cochrane, John Dunbar, Joan Ferguson, Victor Laughlin, Lily Loughlin, Carol McKelvey, eds. “The Changing Years in the Grouped Parishes of Ardstraw, Baronscourt and Badoney Union. Omagh, Co. Tyrone: Graham Printers, 2001.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

A simple former National School, built c.1899, set on a prominent site at the west end of the village of Gortin opposite St. Patrick's Church of Ireland (HB11/16/005). National Schools are a significant part of social history. Its character and detailing survive and it is a good example of a type that is increasingly rare in unaltered form.