Former National School

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two-storey former schoolhouse aligned N-S on corner of Aughnacavan Road and Donaghmore Road. Due to the site, the ground floor of the E elevation is completely embanked in earth and the entrance here is at first floor (see later).

Pitched natural slate roof, with skews and a rendered chimney to each gable. Walls are lime rendered rubble stone.

The front (E) elevation, embanked with earth at ground floor, has a small gabled porch at first floor centre. Porch has a pitched natural slate roof tied into the main roof but with lower eaves level. Half round rainwater goods and a Gothic-style bargeboard. Walls are as those to main block. Front of porch has a t+g sheeted door with bead mouldings and dressed granite threshold. In apex above door is a modern painted sign reading “DONAGHMORE/ GLEBE NATIONAL SCHOOL”. The N and S cheeks of porch each have a narrow window - the N one is margin paned and coloured glazed, and the S one is part infilled and plain.

There is a single rectangular window opening to either side of the porch. Each opening is laid horizontal, has a dressed granite cill and contains a pair of margin paned timber casement windows (in very poor condition).

The right (N) gable is blank and its ground floor is partially embanked with earth.

W elevation has three openings on each floor. Entrance is set to right of centre, and contains a t+g sheeted door with dressed granite threshold. The remaining two ground floor openings are 6/2 (formerly 6/6) exposed box sliding sashes with dressed granite cills.
The first floor has three similar window openings, equally spaced. All contain replacement aluminium framed 6/6 sliding sashes in earlier timber sash boxes.

Left (S) gable is abutted by single storey lean-to outbuilding with monopitched natural slate roof, walls as main block and doorway (door gone) on S side.

Setting:

The E boundary is a dwarf wall with pyramidal coped piers, plain wrought iron gate and horizontal bar railings. The other elevations open onto a field (once the school yard and school master’s garden).

Historical information

There is said to have been a parish school here since 1725. The present building was erected by the parish in 1818 at a cost of £81.10s.0d. The first school master, William Robinson, was employed and resident by 1820 on a salary of £30 per year. Cited in the 1835, 1859 and 1903 OS 6" maps as 'school house', 'infant school' and 'Glebe school' respectively. Described in the 1836 Valuation as measuring 31ft x 15ft x 14ft, with a 7ft 6in high basement; the ground on which it stands was donated by the rector of the parish.

Primary sources:
1. S. Lewis, 1837, Topographical dictionary of Ireland, vol.1, p.468.
2. OS 6" map, 1834, Co Down sheet 40 (PRONI OS 6/3/40/1).
3. First Valuation, 1836 (PRONI VAL 1B/355, p.144).
4. OS 6" map, 1859, Co Down sheet 40 (PRONI OS 6/3/40/2).
5. OS 6" map, 1903, Co Down sheet 40 (PRONI OS 6/3/40/3).

Secondary Sources:
1. Information from Mr Walter McClean (churchwarden).
2. Rev. J. Davison Cowan, “A Country Parish, that of Donaghmore.” London, 1914.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

This early 19thC schoolhouse is located on the hillside beside St Bartholomew’s churchyard. A plainly detailed vernacular building in virtually original condition, it is unusual in this area of Co Down to find an 18th C church, its glebe house and parish school in such close proximity.