St Louis Grammar School

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A two storey/ multi- bayed range with tower constructed in two phases during the inter-war (20thC) years. Pitched natural slate roof. Eaves courses project and support cast-iron ogee gutters. The main elevation is north facing. The first phase of construction is to the west end, and includes the tower at the east end of this block (which is now at the middle of the entire block).

1. Phase 1

Built of regularly coursed concrete blocks cast to stimulate rock-faced stonework and all strap pointed. Plain concrete block quoins and projecting chamfered basecourse. Main entrance is set in a three stage rectangular tower; its top stage projects above the eaves. The main doors are on its right (west) cheek. Pair of modern six panelled doors with fixed side panels, with a plain rectangular overlight. All openings have chamfered concrete jambs and heads. Each upper floor of the tower has a pair of 6/6 sliding sash windows. Those to first floor have been replaced in plastic. The cornice is machiolated and the roof is steeply pitched and hipped, creating a short ridge, crested and with lead finials. Ogee cast-iron gutters. The north elevation of the tower has an infilled pair of transom windows to ground floor, and a pair 6/6 sashes to first floor and a pair of modern casements to second floor. The left cheek of the tower has a 6/6 sash to ground floor, a modern 6/6 sash to first floor and a pair of 6/6 sashes to second floor.

On the main block, to right of the tower, are six matching openings. In each (except the most westerly, which has a single 4/4 sliding sash) at ground floor is a pair of large 4/4 sliding sashes set in a single opening. Above is a pair of similar smaller windows separated by a masonry pier. There is also a narrow 2/2 sash at extreme left. Abutting the west opening is a single storey porch. It has a pitched natural slate roof, walls as façade and a pair of 4/4 sliding sashes on its north gable. There is a door to its left cheek. Its right cheek is blank.

The west gable of the main block has a raised and coped parapet and finial cross. There is a full height window with a solid panel within it dividing the ground floor from first floor. The concrete panel has a plain chamfered concrete head, cill and jambs. It displays the arms of the diocese and of the nuns of St Louis.

The rear elevation is similar to the front but only eight openings wide. It the east bay, at right, is a single storey porch with crenellated parapet. This has a Gothic door to its south elevation and a 1/1 casement to its left cheek. At extreme right, at junction with the second building phase, is a single storey timber link corridor with shallow flat roof leading to the former convent house (HB 16/4/25B) to the south.

The rear elevation has, to ground floor, pairs of 4/4 sliding sashes (each pair in the same opening), and paired 4/4 sliding sashes (smaller and not sharing the same opening) to first floor.

2. Phase 2

The newer section to the left of the entrance tower has ten bays. It is terminated by an advanced three bay hipped section set at right angles at its east end. Its roof is pitched and natural slated with ventilators placed informally placed along its ridge. Its walls are as the original block, and with similar dressings, but without a raised basecourse.

There is a door in the middle bay of the advanced east section. Large steel casement windows, one to each bay on each floor, with those to first floor diminished in height. The rear elevation is similar.

Abutting the east end of the advanced end bay is a post-WW2 three storey extension (but same height of block abutted). It has a flat parapeted roof, grey brick walls and has vertical curtain walling with painted fixed apron panels.

Tarmac playgrounds to front.

Historical information

Erected in the 1920s, extended a number of times and initially run by the nuns of St Louis.

Primary Source:
1. Canon Starkey, Greencastle Road, Kilkeel

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Prominently sited, this somewhat austere building is of some interest because of its association with the religious order of St Louis.