Former National Schools

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A single storey gabled building of red brick. Main entrance faces west. Gabled roofs of Bangor blue slates in regular courses, with two plain metal cylindrical ventilators to roof, modern replacements; terracotta ridge tiles with terracotta finial to front gable. Cast iron rainwater goods. Roughcast render to upper part of gables, modern replacement for original half-timbering (as recorded in original drawings). Modern PVC windows: large fixed light with lower vent, replacements for original timber windows; sandstone cills. Flush timber door, modern. Small flat-roofed single storey red brick additions on entrance elevation and to north gable.

SETTING: The building stands within the built-up area of the village, facing the road and set back from it on a slightly elevated site with a tarmac area in front of it. Front boundary formed by modern red brick wall surmounted by plain iron railings. Immediately to the south of the building is a former teacher's residence (HB20/15/025B). To the rear of the building and connected to it is a later post-war primary school set in extensive grounds with grassed areas.

POST-WAR PRIMARY SCHOOL: An asymmetrical arrangement of single storey gabled and flat-roofed blocks in both rustic brick and prefabricated aluminium panels, with a two-storey entrance block; later entrance porch with oriel window above. Rustic brick blocks have cast iron rainwater goods and original rectangular metal casement windows set in continuous projecting concrete surrounds. Aluminium blocks have original wall panels, angled flanges, and glazing units, but roofs have later replacement covering. Later wing to east in red brick in style of 1980s.

Historical information

Built in 1909 to the designs of J. St J. Phillips, architect of Belfast, as a national school, with a teacher's residence beside it; Messrs Law Bros of Lisburn, builders; officially opened in August 1909 by Mrs Harry Pakenham; gabled extension to north end added in 1916.

References - Primary Sources
1. Irish Builder and Engineer, 21 August 1909, p 533.
2. Ministry of Finance file no. Co Antrim D: 79, in MBR, Hill Street, Belfast (contains original drawings for gabled extension, dated 16 November 1916).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

This is an example of an Edwardian school by a prominent Ulster architect of the period but it has lost most of its original exterior and interior features through inappropriate alterations.