Whiteabbey Primary School

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached multi-bay primary school, dated 1939, facing east and located to the west side of Old Manse Road, Newtownabbey. Symmetrical arrangement comprising a series of single and double-height hipped-roof blocks arranged on a quadrangular plan about central courtyard.

Hipped natural slate roof to all blocks; blue/black clay roll-top ridge tiles, overhanging timber sheeted eaves, half-round cast-iron rainwater goods and square hopper heads. At centre is a hipped wall-head dormer over principal entrance. Walling is stretcher bonded red brick over projecting plinth with chamfered cast-concrete coping; concrete eaves band. Windows are square-headed multi-pane timber casements with precast concrete cills and brick voussoirs (unless otherwise stated.)

Layout is as follows: a symmetrical single-storey entrance block with projecting end bays flanked by secondary entrance linking blocks; linked to west range (rear) by single-storey double-height classroom wings aligned east-west, both with single-storey flat roof corridors to north side. A rectangular plan double-height assembly hall encloses the courtyard on its west side with flat roof linking block to east connecting classroom wings. Central courtyard is partially infilled with single-storey flat roof extension to centre of entrance block; (adjoining but not accessing classroom wings.)

Principal elevation faces east with double-height breakfront entrance bay to centre, four windows to either side. Flanked by single-storey projecting bays comprising the east end of north and south classroom wings; each is three windows wide, with two windows to inner cheek and three windows to outer cheek. Square-plan hipped pavilion ends are joined to classroom block by flat roofed precast concrete linking porches. East (rear) elevation of entrance block has a stepped single-storey flat roof extension.

Principal entrance is recessed within double-height hipped porch with square-headed precast concrete chamfered surround and plaque detail with copper signage, ‘1939/Whiteabbey/Public Elementary/School’; clock in apex in precast concrete surround; entrance comprises double leaf panelled doors, nine glazed panes over two solid panels, matching sidelights with six glazed panes, original brass door handles and locks; accessed by three masonry steps.

Secondary entrances are recessed within square-headed precast concrete surrounds detailed as principal entrance, with original copper signage ‘GIRLS’ and ‘BOYS’ above. Double doors to rear of secondary entrance blocks; doors detailed as principal entrance.

Pavilion blocks each have six windows to east (front), double door access and four windows to west (rear), central window to exposed ends.

South elevation (classroom wing) is sixteen windows wide, three to right, and thirteen to left, divided by pavilion end link block. Windows are separated by projecting piers.

Hipped double-height symmetrical assembly hall to west is five windows wide on its west elevation, with entrances below second and fourth openings. East elevation overlooks courtyard, is five windows wide and is abutted by a single-storey linking corridor. Entrance doors are recessed within projecting brick surround with precast concrete flat roof and accessed by concrete step. Doors are double leaf with single obscured glass pane over two fixed panels.

Right gable has entrance left and is abutted by single-storey flat roof extension to right, (corridor block of north classroom wing.)
Left gable is abutted by a two-storey flat roof extension with door to left, two windows to right, two windows to first floor; further abutted by single-storey flat roof extension (corridor block of north classroom wing.)

The west linking corridor ( to east of assembly hall) has double door access to right into courtyard by three masonry steps; the left has been further extended by a single-storey flat-roof block.

North elevation (classroom wing) is detailed as the south classroom wing; (the classrooms now facing into the courtyard and the corridor wing facing away); divided by pavilion end link block to left.

Setting

Tarmac forecourt with car parking; tarmac playgrounds and grass with concrete & paved pathways; boundary wall is redbrick with railings between brick pillars.

Roof: natural slate
Walling: red brick with precast concrete dressings
Windows: timber casement
RWG: cast-iron

Historical information

The building is not shown on the sixth edition OS map of 1936-8.

It was designed by Ferguson & McIlveen in 1939. Whiteabbey primary is a co-educational school situated in Newtownabbey which was as its name suggests a new town formed in 1958 out of the existing villages of Carnmoney, Glengormley, Jordanstown, Monkstown, Whitehouse and Whiteabbey (Wikipedia).

The legislative background to school building in the early twentieth century was the 1923 Education Act, which made the transition from the old national school system to the public elementary school system. The Act provided for elementary and secondary schools to be transferred to the control of the local education authority and for the building of new schools by local authorities. The legislation saw a significant rise in school attendance from the mid 1920s, further increasing the need for new schools.

Ferguson McIlveen were responsible for a number of school buildings of the period, including nearby Glengormley Primary School (HB21/14/001), with which it shares similar design characteristics.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/1/57/1 –First Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1832)
2. PRONI OS/6/1/57/6– Sixth Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1905, revised 1936-8)

Secondary Sources

1.Department of Education: Background to the Selective System of Education in Northern Ireland. [Internet Source] Available from: Accessed 15/05/09.
2. Irish Architectural Archive. “Dictionary of Irish Architects” [Internet Source] Available from: Accessed 12/05/09.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Whiteabbey Primary School is a small inter-war brick primary school located to the west of Old Manse Road, Newtownabbey. This school presents an early and well-preserved example of the innovative approach to school design which was central to mid-century educational reform. The building is designed around a formal symmetrical layout similar to that of Glengormley Primary School; also designed by Ferguson & McIlveen in 1935 (HB21/14/001). Ornamentation is understated and typical of the period, representing effective use of simple materials. It is not, however, representative of the best modern design of the Thirties era, being somewhat pedestrian and domestic in its form and detailing. There are other, more progressive, schools of greater merit listed for their special architectural and historic interest.