Charley Memorial Primary School

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A single-storey two-bay Victorian primary school dated 1892. Formerly a cross-plan form with later 20th century additions to the side and rear. Located on the north side of Ballyskeagh Road approximately ½ mile west of St Patrick’s Church (HB19/23/001)

Pitched natural slate roof to the front pitch with artificial slate to the rear; terracotta ridge tiles; timber moulded barge boards; timber sheeted soffits; exposed timber rafters ends at eaves level; replacement extruded metal rainwater goods throughout; panelled smooth rendered chimney with moulded cornice and terracotta pots. Ruled-and-lined rendered with rusticated long-and-short quoins. Steel-framed casement/pivot windows with rectangular cills. Replacement external doors throughout.

The principal elevation faces south and is symmetrically arranged comprising two matching bays; each bay comprising a single large double-width window flanked by two single-width windows; quoins to either side.

The left gable is abutted by a single bay subservient gable ended block. The south cheek comprises a single door to the right, window to the left; a plaque on the wal reads “CHARLEY MEMORIAL SCHOOL, ERECTED IN MEMORY OF WILLIAM CHARLEY D.L. OF SEYMOUR HILL BY HIS SISTERS A.J. STEVENSON & EMILY CHARLEY, 1892.” The gable has a single door to the left; the north cheek has a single window left of centre.

The rear elevation is fully abutted by a single-storey flat-roofed extension comprising several projecting bays with modern entrance doors to the west with matching steel-framed windows throughout. Single-existing high-level window to the left.

The right gable is abutted by a slightly recessed bay with lower ridge level. The south cheek has four uniformly arranged windows; the west gable is blank; the north cheek comprises a window to the left with a high level window to the right located over a diminished single-storey flat-roof abutment comprising a variety of windows and a projected entrance porch.

Setting:

The school forms part small group of various historic buildings, located on the north side of the road; beyond which is an extensive rural landscape. Entry to the site is via wrought-iron interlacing hooped gates with cast-iron piers; railings over low rise brick wall with coping. Matching pedestrian gate. Short drive lined with trees leading up to tarmac car park at the front of the building. Temporary mobile accommodation to the left. The rear of the site comprises a small play-ground with grass area extending to the north of the site; bounded by hedge-rows and trees. To the east of the school is the former school-masters house; two-storey three-bay symmetrical dwelling; matching in style to the school; modified to the rear and uPVC replacement windows; matching entrance gates.

Roofing: Natural and artificial slate
Walling: Ruled-and-lined render
Windows: Steel-framed casement/pivot
RWG: Replacement extruded metal.

Historical information

Charley Memorial School was first constructed in the village of Drumbeg in 1892; a plaque situated on the wall of the school records that it was erected to the memory of William Charley D. L. (Deputy Lieutenant) of Seymour Hill (HB 19/19/001), by his sisters Emily Charley and Anne Jane Stevenson. This school first appears on the third edition Ordnance Survey map (1901-02) for the town of Drumbeg where it is depicted, in a rather different layout, as a cross-plan form building (which at that time included a south projecting porch) accessed by a path from the Ballyskeagh Road; a two-storey house to the east side of the school, which may have been an associated schoolmasters house, also first appears from this map.

The 1901 Census records that Charley Memorial School operated under the National School system was let by Emily Charley; the census tells us that the eastern house (recorded as ‘Oakmount’ on the fourth edition Ordnance Survey map in 1920-21) was occupied by a Ms. Margaret Gardner and a number of her children one of whom, a Miss Emily Gardiner, was recorded as a National Schools Teacher. The Ulster Town’s Directories between 1901 and 1918 record the occupants of Oakmount House as the ‘Misses Gardiners,’ who were employed as dressmakers. The 1910 and 1918 directories tell us that the principal of Charley Memorial School was a Mr. Robert Gurd (principal from 1892 to 1931) and that he employed a Ms. Harrison as an assistant teacher in 1910, and a Ms. Gilmore in 1918, making it unclear whether Oakmount House was indeed associated with the school as Emily Gardiner is not referenced in any sources aside from the 1901 and 1911 census (although it is certain that both the house and the school were constructed around the same time and in similar style).

In 1937 Charley Memorial School was reconstructed into its current layout when the flat-roofed extension abutting the north elevation was built as well as the extension to the east gable. The south projecting porch which can be seen on early class photographs of the school was taken down at this time when the entrance was moved to the west side of the school; the original lattice came glazing was also replaced with the current steel framed windows (Drumbeg Residents Association website). The school was reconstructed by Blackwood and Jury who operated from premises in Donegall Place, Belfast between c. 1905 and 1968 and built or renovated a number of schools and church buildings throughout Ulster (Irish Builder, Vol. 79, 13 Nov 1937, p. 1014; Dictionary of Irish Architects).

Neill states that when Charley Memorial School was constructed in 1892 it was at the sole expense of Emily Charley and Anne Jane Stevenson; the cost of construction stood at £800 (Neill). Rankin tells us that the Charley family resided in Dunmurry for over 200 years, first fleeing to Ulster in the 18th century after supporting the failed Jacobite Rebellion of 1715. During the 18th century the family experimented with weaving techniques and in 1824 John Charley founded the J. & W. Charley and Co. Linen firm (with his brother William), a highly successful business which supplied luxury goods and even carried out royal commissions. William Charley died in 1838 leaving his business and Seymour House to his son William Charley Jnr. William Charley’s sisters, Anne Jane (1822-1904) and Emily (1837-1917) resided at Huntley House and were known for their support of charities, giving generously to local schools and churches. With their brother’s death in 1890 they constructed the Charley Memorial School, and through their own means the sisters also constructed the Stevenson Memorial School in 1899 (in memory of Anne Jane’s late husband) and a school in Woodbourne soon after (Rankin, pp 140-163).

Charley Memorial School celebrated its centenary in 1992 when the Venerable William Barnett, Archdeacon of Down, preached the anniversary memorial service in St. Patrick’s Church in Drumbeg (Neill). However, in 2007 it was announced that the school would close; the school was finally closed in August of that year and has remained vacant since that time. The two-storey house to the east of the school continues to be occupied and in recent years has been modified to the rear with the addition of a single-storey return.

References
Primary Sources
1. PRONI OS/6/3/9/1 – First Edition Ordnance Survey Map 1834
2. PRONI OS/6/3/9/2 – Second Edition Ordnance Survey Map 1858
3. PRONI OS/6/3/9/3 – Third Edition Ordnance Survey Map 1901-02
4. PRONI OS/6/3/9/4 – Fourth Edition Ordnance Survey Map 1920-21
5. Irish Builder, Vol. 79, 13 Nov 1937
6. Census of Ireland 1901 / 1911
7. Ulster Town’s Directory (1880; 1901; 1907; 1910; 1918)

Secondary Sources

1. Neill, M., ‘Recollections of the parish of Drumbeg, Diocese of Down’ (Church pamphlet, 1996).
2. Rankin, K., ‘The linen houses of the Lagan Valley’ Belfast: Ulster Historical Foundation, 2002.

Online Resources

1. Dictionary of Irish Architect’s - http://www.dia.ie
2. Drumbeg Residents Association Website - http://drumbegresidentsassociation.com/schoolold.htm

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

A single-storey two-bay late Victorian primary school dated 1892; enlarged at the rear and side during the early 20th century. The large expanse of uniformly arranged twentieth century fenestration gives the building a distinct appearance. Adjacent to the school is a school masters house which matches in detail and adds to the fine setting of this former school set back from the Ballyskeagh behind good quality wrought and cast iron gates and railings. This fine building, associated with the prominent local family, after whom it is named, is of social interest to the local community.

General comments

In Drumbeg Area of Village Character
This record was completed without access to original source material held by the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland.