Abercorn Primary School

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A symmetrical red-brick primary school dated 1931 comprising a long two-storey-over-semi-basement linear main block with gabled ends and two-storey gabled return to rear to designs by Castor J. Love. Also abutted to rear by a two-storey modern addition housing classrooms, and a single-storey corridor adjoining a double-height dining hall, all c.1960. Located on an elevated site to the west side of Newry Road in Banbridge town centre.

Pitched natural slate roof with blue/black angled ridge tiles and leaded valleys; rosemary tiled roof to return; red-brick square chimneystack and bargeboards to gables. Cast-iron ogee rainwater goods on projecting eaves with timber soffits and fascia boards; cast-iron hoppers and downpipes. Walling is stretcher-bonded red-brick on a smooth rendered moulded plinth with smooth rendered string course above windows (continuous to end bays) and smooth rendered sill course. Windows are six and three-paned replacement uPVC with painted masonry lintels and projecting cills.

The principal elevation faces southeast and is symmetrically arranged, comprising a linear block with projecting gabled ends and central entrance bay. Entrance bay is taller with a stepped parapet; recessed double-leaf panelled-and-glazed timber door with margin-paned overlight and first floor three paned window flanked by brick pilaster with stepped heads to each floor in typical Art Deco style. To centre above first floor window is a painted date stone reading “1931”. Left and right bays are each four windows wide to either floor (each window is separated by a plain buttress); gabled ends are flanked by plain clasping buttresses and have three windows to each floor (that to centre is narrow) and louvered vents with smooth rendered surround instepping at reveals and string course to gable.

The southwest elevation is flanked by plain clasping buttresses and is three windows wide (that to centre is wider) with each window separated by a plain buttress.

The northwest (rear) elevation is abutted at centre by the original two-storey gabled return, connected to the main linear block by a two-storey flat-roof projection and abutted to southeast by the single-storey corridor (c.1960). At far right is the modern two-storey addition.

The northeast elevation is flanked by plain clasping buttresses and is three windows wide (that to centre is wider) with each window separated by a plain buttress.

Setting

Set on an elevated site to the west side of Newry Road, accessed via a tarmacadam driveway with modern high metal railings and gates. Site is bounded to road to southeast by modern timber fence and mature trees. Lawned to front with tarmacadam car-park and large tarmacadam playground to rear. To southwest is a modern housing estate.

Roof: Natural slate / rosemary tiles
Walling: Brick
Windows: uPVC
RWG: Cast-iron

Historical information

Abercorn Public Elementary School was built in 1931/2 to designs by Castor J Love, architect to the County Down Education Committee from 1927 to 1934. The school is first shown captioned ‘Abercorn County Primary School’ on the OS map edition dating from the 1960s/70s.

The school was built in 1932 by Down Regional Education Committee to accommodate pupils from a number of local Church of Ireland, Presbyterian and Unitarian schools including Scarva Street, Rathfriland Street Friar’s Place and senior pupils from Dunbar Memorial and Church Street. The building cost £15,000 and was opened on 18th August 1932 by the then Governor of Northern Ireland, His Grace the Duke of Abercorn. The school was named the Abercorn Public Elementary School by Mrs Norman D Ferguson, the wife of the Chair of Down County Council. The opening was attended by a number of prominent people including the Prime Minister, Lord Craigavon and local members of the Down and Banbridge education hierarchy. The first principal was Mr J Carson and the Vice-Principal Mr S G Johnston. (Linn) The school was intended to be one of the main feeders for Banbridge Academy, the local grammar school which was founded in 1786. (W Haughton Crowe)

The architect, Castor J Love, was responsible for a number of primary schools in a wave of post-war school building set in train by the Northern Ireland education reforms of the 1920s. The new designs initiated by Love and his Belfast counterpart, Reginald Wilshere, sought to sweep away the older, largely Victorian, education infrastructure which was now seen as unhealthy and cramped. New school design focussed on air, light and sunshine including innovatory features such as a single class-room for each class, a large assembly hall and dedicated rooms for science, cookery and art. Much attention was given to ventilation which was achieved by cross-ventilation and open air corridors and great care was taken with lighting arrangements.(Collins)

The school enters valuation records in 1932 as the property of Down County Regional Education Committee in fee, a Public Elementary School and land valued at £180 and £4.10s for the associated playing fields. In the First General Revaluation the school was revalued at £350. A plan of the building is given which shows that it was originally on a T-shaped plan and the school has since been extended to the rear. The building continues in use as a primary school.

References:
Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/3/27/4 Fourth Edition OS Map 1903-18
2. OS Map Banbridge 1960s/70s
3. PRONI VAL/12/F/4/1/1 Annual Revisions (1930-35)
4. PRONI VAL/3/C/4/4 First General Revaluation (1936-57)

Secondary Sources
1. Collins, P “Conservation Statement Glenwood and Strandtown Schools- Reginald Sharman Wilshere Belfast Schools’
Architect” Alastair Coey Architects
2. Linn, Captain R “A History of Banbridge” (edited by W S Kerr) Banbridge Chronicle Press, 1935
3. Haughton Crowe, W “In Banbridge Town” Banbridge Chronicle, 1964

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A symmetrical red-brick modern primary school dated 1931 comprising a long two-storey-over-semi-basement linear main block with gabled ends and two-storey gabled return to rear to designs by Castor J. Love. Some modern additions c.1960 to rear. The building is of some architectural interest, representing the distinct style and proportions favoured by school architects of the period, in response to educational reforms. Although the architectural detailing, layout and much of the historic fabric are largely intact, it has been significantly compromised by the replacement fenestration. Abercorn Primary School is a good example of a typical 1930s school building but not among the best examples of the type.