Aghaderg Parish Hall

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A symmetrical classically proportioned single-storey former school, built c.1825 and located at a rural road junction in the townland of Drumnahare, east of Loughbrickland village. Rectangular on plan with catslide extension to rear.

Hipped natural slate roof, with angled clay ridge and hip tiles; overhanging timber sheeted eaves supported on paired simple timber brackets; ogee cast iron gutters, aluminium downpipes. No chimneystack. Walling is exposed random rubble stone with snecking; no plinth; cast iron pattress plates to entrance bay. Openings are brick-dressed throughout. 6/6 timber sliding sash windows in brick reveals with projecting granite cills.

Principal elevation faces south and is symmetrically arranged, having two windows to either side of gabled central bay. Gabled bay has a central segmental-arched door opening flanked by a window to either side. Replacement paneled hardwood door flanked by integral two-pane sidelights with granite cills; radial timber fanlight over. Apex has a brick-dressed painted plaque reading “Aghaderg Parish Hall”.

West elevation has an elliptical-arched recess with brick voussoirs.

Rear elevation is abutted by catslide cement rendered extension to left of centre comprising three timber casement windows; single window to right cheek; blank left cheek. To right side is a window and timber sheeted door with six-pane overlight. To left side is a similarly detailed door.

East elevation is as west.

Setting:
The hall is set on an elevated site above the junction of Aghaderg and Grovehill Roads, opposite the entrance to Aghaderg Glebe (HB17/03/001) and overlooking Lough Brickland to south. The hall is accessed from the lower level of the road by a set of rubble stone steps set into a bank, held by a rubble stone retaining wall. To rear is a steep bank, and the site boundary includes several mature native trees.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: Stone
Windows: Timber
RWG: Metal

Historical information

The building was constructed as the Glebe School by the Church of Ireland in 1825 and remained in use as a school until the 1950s. In 1981 the building was restored as the Parish Hall. (Magennis)

The OS Memoirs of c.1837 give a full description of the school ‘Loughbrickland Glebe School...a plain, stone building with 2 schoolrooms, established 1825. Income: from the Reverend James Mahon, rector of the parish, 2 pounds 2s per annum, from Earl of Clanwilliam 2 pounds 2s, 16 pounds per annum from pupils. Intellectual education: the Dublin Reading Book, the Old and New Testament selections and other books were furnished by the Kildare Street Society; writing and arithmetic is also taught, moral education: the Protestant cur[ate] is patron and visitor, catechisms are not taught, the Old and New Testaments are read every day. Number of pupils: males, 58 under 10 years of age, 37 from 10 to 15, 14 above 15, 109 total males; females, 41 under 10 years of age, 34 from 10to 15, 8 above 15, 83 total females; 192 total number of pupils, 83 Protestants, 9 Roman Catholics; master George Rice, Protestant.’

The ‘School Ho[use]’ is shown, captioned, on the first edition OS map of 1833 opposite the entrance driveway to the Glebe House and is listed in the Townland Valuation of the same period (1828-40) as a School House valued at £4.13s. The dimensions are 75 x 20 x 12 feet and it is noted that the rent was £3. By 1859 a teacher’s house had also been built on the plot and the buildings were revalued at £9 in Griffith’s Valuation but exempted from the payment of rates. The teacher, John Parnell, had the use of the land as part of his salary. (Griffith’s Valuation) There are no further changes to the valuation in Annual Revisions.

In 1981 the building was converted into the parish hall.

References:
Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/3/34/1 First Edition OS Map 1833
2. PRONI OS/6/3/34/2 Second Edition OS map 1859
3. PRONI OS/6/3/34/3 Third Edition OS Map 1902-3
4. PRONI OS/6/3/34/4 Fourth Edition OS Map 1903-18
5. PRONI VAL/1/B/351 Townland Valuation (1828-40)
6. PRONI VAL/2/B/3/55B Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64)
7. PRONI VAL/12/B/16/18A-E Annual Revisions (1864-1930)

Secondary Sources
1. Day, A. and P. McWilliams, eds. “OS Memoirs of Ireland, Parishes of County Down III, 1833-8, Vol. 12.” Belfast: Institute of
Irish Studies, 1992.
2. Magennis, P “Loughbrickland Historic Trail” 2008

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
H-. Alterations detracting from building

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

Aghaderg Parish Hall is a stone single-storey former school house, built c.1825 and remaining in use as a school until the 1950s. The school is distinguished by a mix of traditional construction methods and classical proportions, composed on symmetrical plan about a central gabled entrance bay. Its formality of design is of note and the building retains much original fabric. This former school is of local historical and social significance having fulfilled a variety of functions over its lifetime.