Former Presbyterian School House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Single-storey/ two-bay symmetrical hall (former school) with gable porches.

Hipped artificial slate roof. Single granite chimney to centre – has a recessed panel to each face, slightly projecting moulded cap and platband to bottom. Modern plastic rainwater goods with downpipe to each end. Walls are lined rendered with stepped granite quoins.

Principal elevation faces NE. Each bay consists of a central entrance flanked by windows. Each entrance has a modern t+g sheeted door and matching fixed panel. Large glazed transom over. All doors are encased by fine unpainted granite surround with granite labelled drip mould over. All windows are modern timber 2/2 vertically divided top hung casements with granite cills and similar drip moulds. At centre is a smooth polished granite plaque inscribed “Saint Mary’s/ Parish Centre/ 1998”; over is a granite moulded cornice, in line with drip moulds. Modern light to front wall.

Left gable is abutted by lower shallower entrance porch, dressed as main block. Exposed section of main block at right is blank. Roof of porch is concealed behind parapet. Its right (front) cheek has modern t+g door, with square recessed panel (no plaque) with granite moulded cornice above. Modern light fitting. End wall of porch has granite stepped quoins, single top-hung casement (obscured glass) with concrete cill. Left (rear) cheek of porch has modern t+g door. Plastic rainwater goods and steel heating pipe to left wall.

Rear elevation of main block is five windows wide and is abutted by lean-to at right end. Walls and windows as front elevation. Lean-to has a mono pitch artificial slate roof with concrete skews. Plastic rainwater goods and downpipe to right of end wall. Modern light to centre of end (rear) wall. Left and right cheeks are blank.

Right gable of main block is abutted by porch identical to that on left gable.

Building is set within a large car park filling its wedge shaped site on junction of Newry Street and Newry Road. Two plain modern bollards, one at each door.

Historical information

1834 Ordnance Survey Memoir states that built by subscription in 1830 at a cost of £250. Also notes: “still unfinished – no school held here owing to a difference of opinion as to what system of education is to be adopted”.

Primary sources:
1. Ordnance Survey Memoir, Drumballyeroney Parish (1834).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Although retains much character, the modernisation of this former school has removed any features of special interest.