Former Kinghill National School

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Single storey symmetrical schoolhouse, standing derelict in schoolyard on south-west side of Hilltown Road/ Kinghill Road junction.

Shallow hipped natural slate roof is aligned NE-SW. Terracotta ridges, deep overhanging eaves course and no gutters. Walls are lined lime render, with stepped quoins to facade.

Front elevation faces NW. To centre is a recessed granite plaque, stating "(first line obscured) / National School / AD 1834". There are four equally spaced window openings. Each contains a pair of 1/1 sliding sashes, all with exposed boxes, horns, and dressed granite cills. Over each is a hood mould with plain stops.

Left elevation is blank and completely abutted to ground floor by a single storey porch. Porch has a lean-to natural slate roof, with a raised parapet to front wall (which is set back from that of main block). Its walls are as main block, its front wall has a single doorway (door gone). Its left cheek has a single central window opening with granite cill. Its rear wall has a door to a tiny enclosed yard.

The rear elevation of main block is rendered and has no eaves course. It has four window openings: all contain 2/2 sliding sashes with security bars over. Abutting G/F left and right are small ruinous lean-to latrine blocks. Each is served by a door which leads to the tiny yard at back of each porch. Latrine blocks had lean-to roofs with a small window on rear wall.

Right gable has an identical porch to that on the left gable, although its rear yard is roofed with corrugated asbestos.

Setting

Small front school yard is enclosed from road by spear-headed railings on a chamfered plinth with granite one piece posts to left and right and a second post framing a pedestrian gateway to NE end.

Historical information

Datestone indicates constructed in 1834. Described in 1836 Ordnance Survey Memoir as a plain oblong building, whitewashed and slated, established [i.e.. opened] in 1835. Finance by National Education Board. Accommodated 230 pupils. Patron is William Wynstead Newell Barron Esq. School master is William Cotter and school mistress is Catherine McGlellan. The first valuation of c.1838 notes that it cost about £200 to build. Closed in the early 1960s. William Wynstead Newell Barron Esq was occupant of the nearby Kinghill House (HB16/07/032).

Primary Sources:
1. Datestone on building façade.
2. Ordnance Survey Memoir, Clonduff Parish (1836).
3. First valuation book, c.1838 (PRONI VAL 1B/354, p.25).
4. Information from owner, 1999.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

This building retains some of its original architectural character and plan form in a derelict state. It also has a connection to Kinghill House (HB16/07/032) and is close to the gate lodge to Kinghill and the gate screen (HB16/07/039). Insufficient remains of the historic fabric to merit statutory protection.