Former Schoolhouse (East of 197) Derrytrasna Road Derrytrasna Lurgan Co Armagh BT66 6NR

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Long, two-storey gable-ended former schoolhouse, probably built 1844 but with upper level and porch added in 1898, located within the grounds of St Mary’s RC Church (HB14/03/009) within the small settlement of Derrytrasna, about 9km N of Portadown.

The building has a rendered (dry-dash) façade, what appears to be a natural slate roof and brick chimneystacks. To the front (S) elevation there is a relatively large gabled porch, whilst to the rear there is a series of single and two-storey rear extensions. Most of the windows have been boarded over. The porch has decorative bargeboards and a marble datestone which reads ‘Derrytrasna National Schools 1898’, and the initials ‘E.McC. In the corner. The far left-hand ground floor window has been converted to a doorway and has a modern roller shutter over. The building appears to have been out of use for some years, quite possibly well over a decade, and is in disrepair.

Historical information

A schoolhouse under the National system was built on this site in 1844 and this is marked on the revised edition OS map of 1858. The building was extended in 1898, the fenestration on the front elevation suggesting that the upper floor was added at this time, and probably also the porch. The 1905 OS map shows that there was also a small central projection to the rear, which may also have been part of the 1898 remodeling. The other rear projections are much later, that to the east built sometime between 1953 and 1965, with the remaining additions to this side appearing between the latter year and 1983. Originally a wall separated the school from the grounds of the church, denoting the legal separation of National Schools from any religious body – even though (as in this case), local churches were frequently instrumental in establishing such institutions.

The school closed upon the completion of the new St. Mary’s Primary School (by architects C.T. MacLynn & Son) to the east of the neighbouring church in 1969. The old building appears to have been used – in part at least – as a charity shop in more recent times, although this shop appears to have closed c.2011.

References – Primary sources
1 OS maps – 1858, 1905, 1953, 1965, 1983
2 ‘Lurgan Times’ – 1 April 1968, p.10

Evaluation

Only a partial survey was taken as the building is not of sufficient interest to warrant a full survey.

Long, relatively plain, two-storey former schoolhouse which assumed its present form in 1898 when an existing school building of 1844 was raised a storey with the porch probably added at the same date.

General comments

Previous LQ see HB14/LQ057