The Logic Cafe

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A symmetrical single-storey three-bay former school dated 1908 built to the designs of William Wright Larmor. Rectangular plan form with a single-storey return to the rear. Located at the crest of Main Street, opposite the Moira Police Station.

Hipped natural slate roof (replaced c.2000) with crested terracotta ridge tiles and finials; timber fascia and barge boards; replacement extruded metal cyma-recta moulded guttering and box-section downpipes. Chimneys removed. Red brick Flemish bond walling to the upper portion with random basalt lower portion separated by an enlarged concrete string course; engineering brick projected plinth course. Replacement single-glazed timber framed casement windows with individual top-hung light and decorative granite lintels. Double-leaf timber door with flush sheeted central panel; bronze ironmongery; decorative moulded lintel.

The principal elevation faces south and is symmetrically arranged comprising a central gabled projected porch, flanked by two gabled projected bays. The central porch bay comprises the front door centrally located on the front with a marble plaque with granite consoles and diminutive chinoiserie canopy; inscription reads, “MOIRA PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ERECTED 1908”. Single windows located on the east and west cheek. To either side of the porch is a single bi-partite window. The projecting gabled bays to either side each have a pair of tall bi-partite windows centrally located.

The left elevation is symmetrically arranged comprising a pair of centrally located bi-partite windows.

The rear elevation is asymmetrically arranged comprising an asymmetrically central projected gable bay flanked by two gabled bays. The central bay comprises a rear door located right of centre with a single window to the right and two modern windows with concrete lintels, replacing a former matching door to the left. The west cheek has a single modern window located to the far left with matching concrete lintel. The eaves level of the east cheek is significantly lower than the rest of the building, just above the enlarged string course. The right gable bay comprises a single double-leaf door to the right. The left gable bay comprises a pair of bi-partite windows, matching the front elevation.

The right elevation matches the left.

Setting:

The building sits isolated at the crest of hill on a slightly elevated site overlooking the Main Street. Grass area to the front with a tarmac path accessing the front door from the street. Tarmac path around the building with car parking area to the rear. The site is bounded to the south and east by a low-rise basalt rubble wall with concrete coping surmounted with decorative iron railings and matching gates and piers. Paladin fences to the rear adjoining the building enclosing a small yard and free-standing cabin. Modern houses adjacent to the rear and west elevation.

Roofing: Natural slate
Walling: Red-brick/basalt
Windows: Timber casement
RWG: Extruded metal

Historical information

The former school is dated 1908 and was built to the designs of engineer William Wright Larmor, who was responsible for a number of houses, schools and churches, largely within the Banbridge and Moira area from 1900-1920. Larmor had previously held the post of resident engineer for the construction of causeways and bridges on the Connemara coast and from c1907 until 1934/5 he was assistant county surveyor for County Down. He was engineer to Banbridge Rural District Council from the passing of the Local Government Act of 1898 until his retirement in 1934. (www.dia.ie) Credit for building the school is given by a local history to the Deramore Estate, and the land agent, Mr J L Dowie. However, the Irish Builder states that the school was built for the select vestry of the local church. (Rudd; Irish Builder)

The building replaced an earlier school on the same site built by the Earl of Moira, former proprietor of the town and demesne, and was itself replaced by a new primary school which was built in the early 1970s to the north of the town. In 1975 the present building became the property of the Church of Ireland in fulfilment of the terms of its charter, which stated that it was to pass to the church, when no longer in use as a school. The building was opened as a youth hall in 1975 and remains in use as a drop-in centre. (Rudd)

References:
Primary Sources
1. PRONI OS/6/3/13 - OS Map 1833
2. PRONI OS/6/3/13 - OS Map 1858
3. PRONI OS/6/3/13 - OS Map 1904
4. PRONI OS/6/3/13 - OS Map 1916
5. Irish Builder, Vol 50, 11th July 1908, p.438
Secondary Sources

1. Rudd, Rev Canon CRJ “Moira, a Historical Handbook” c1992 (available at www.lisburn.com)
2. www.dia.ie – Dictionary of Irish Architects online

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
S. Authenticity
T. Historic Importance
X. Local Interest
Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance
V. Authorship

Evaluation

A symmetrical single-storey three-bay former school dated 1908 built to the designs of William Wright Larmor. Externally the building has retained much of its original character and style defined by strong symmetry and a distictive basalt plinth to cill level. Despite having undergone several phases of repair and restoration the building still displays the characteristics and styling of the Edwardian period and has retained its stone boundary walling and railings. Still functioning as a community building, it is of social and local interest and makes a positive contribution to the heritage of Moira.

General comments

This record was completed without access to the primary source material held by PRONI