Site of former schoolhouse and schoolmaster residence

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Site –on the north side of Bluestone Road, less than half a mile west of Craigavon- formerly occupied by a small schoolhouse and schoolmaster’s residence, both built in 1881-82 and demolished post 1972.

The first survey report of January 1972 reads:
‘National School- Single-storey building. Roof slated with gable end to road. Gabled porch on left hand side at front corner, plain barges. Walls black coursed rubble, brick quoins and dressings to openings. Front gable has 2 drop-hung [i.e. sash] windows, vertical astragals, no glass, flat arch head. Cement sign band above windows [inscribed] “Moyraverty National School”. Front entrance in side porch, flat arch head, door smashed. Condition poor and derelict. Front gable about 24ft wide.
School[master’s] House- Alongside school to left hand side. Single-storey house, gable ends. Former slated roof gone. Brick chimney. Walls blackstone rubble, brick quoins and dressing to openings. Front projecting gabled porch, slated roof, window, no glass. Doorway on right hand side, door gone. One window on main front, sashes gone, flat arch head. Condition ruinous and only shell remains. Front about 26ft. Hoop wrought-iron fence along front of both [buildings] on cracked cemented wall’.

Historical information

The school house and former schoolmaster’s residence formerly on this site first appear as entries in the valuation book in 1882, suggesting both were built in that year or the one immediately preceding. The book states that both were built by the local Presbyterian congregation with either the school or both buildings (the wording is confusing) costing £250. Both buildings are shown on the OS map of 1905-07, marked as ‘Moyraverty School’.

The school appears to have closed some time before 1964, possibly in the late 1940s with the post war education reforms. The buildings themselves appear to have been abandoned long before 1972 and were totally demolished some time after this date.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI VAL/12B/14/7B Annual valuation revision book, Kernan ED (c.1879-91)
2 PRONI OS/6/2/10/3 OS map, County Armagh sheet 10 (1905-07)
3 PRONI VAL/12B/14/7C Annual valuation revision book, Kernan ED (c.1892-1906)
4 PRONI VAL/12B/14/7D Annual valuation revision book, Kernan ED (c.1907-19)
5 PRONI VAL/12B/14/7E Annual valuation revision book, Kernan ED (c.1920-29)

Secondary sources
1 Oram, Richard, et al., ‘Historic Buildings…Craigavon’ (Belfast, 1970), part III, p.8

Other
references
1 EHS HB14/04/016 First survey record card (13th January 1972)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Site formerly occupied by a small schoolhouse and schoolmaster’s residence, both built in 1881-82 and demolished post 1972.