Former School Adjacent to St Marks Church of Ireland

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Single story Gothic style former national school, built in 1874-75 to designs by an unknown architect and constructed by local builder John Davidson. Cruciform plan set on a N-S axis with the crossing set to the southern side. From the south western arm of the cross a four-bay gabled block with pitched roof extends N parallel with the main body of the building (possible early extension). A more recent flat roofed extension, opened in 1969, abuts to the N and two small flat roofed extensions, of similar age, are located to SW and SE sides of the crossing. The site is located to the N of the Ligoniel Road and includes St Mark's Church to the E (listed under HB26/39/006A).

Pitched and gabled natural slate roof with angled black clay ridge tiles, raised stone verges and moulded kneelers to main building. Flat roof to later 1960s extensions. Rectangular section chimney with dentilated cornice and two buff clay chimney pots crowns each gable of the cruciform plan, as well as the northern gable of the four-bay block. Lead capped timber cupola with dentilated cornice and pointed arch openings surmounted by metal weathervane at crossing point of roof. Replacement uPVC ogee guttering discharging to a mixture of original circular section cast iron down pipes with some replacement uPVC. Cast iron downpipes and hoppers to 1960s extensions. Generally random-coursed rock-faced basalt walling with red sandstone dressings to main building, squared and pitched rock-faced reconstituted stone walling to N extensions and coursed reconstituted stone walling to SW and SE extensions.

Principal elevation
The principal elevation faces East and consists of the east elevation of the cruciform having three pointed-arch lancet windows with timber sashes and recessed square-headed door opening to S with timber sheeted door. Attached monopitch main entrance porch has pointed arch door opening with original sheeted door. These projections are bound to the N by three recessed bays of the main body of the building having replacement timber casement windows. Attached to the N gable of the main building is a flat roofed extension opened in 1969 (see plaque in G10). Chimney and quatrefoil tablet to gable of cruciform arm. Single storey flat roof extension with square-headed three part iron casement window to SE.

South
The southern elevation has a central projecting double-height gable with three blocked pointed arch lancet windows with red sandstone bevelled surrounds and cills. Small square-headed louvered openings to ground level. Gable is crowned by a chimney and inscription beneath displays: 'St Mark's National Schools'. The projecting gable is flanked by the two flat roofed extensions. To the SE extension is a square-headed doorway and a single two part square-headed window; two square-headed two part windows to SW extension.

West
The western facade is obscured by the site boundary and consists of a projecting gable with three original pointed-arch lancet sash windows complete with window horns, a chimney above and a four bay gabled section extending from northern side of gabled projection. A pointed arch doorway is located on the southern gable of this four bay gabled section, housed within a small attached gabled porch.

North
The N elevation is obscured and abutted by the main 1969 flat roofed extension. Where original gabled rises above flat roofed extension original lancet windows are blocked with clay brick and concrete block.

Setting
Located to the N of the Ligoniel Road the elevated site is bounded by random-coursed basalt walling with mature trees and established hedging to the interior. Walling directly to S of school building is topped by hooped circular section iron railings. Access and grounds shared with St Mark's Church (HB26/39/006A) and Rectory.

Materials
Roof: natural slate
RWG: cast iron downpipes and replacement uPVC guttering
Walling: random-coursed, rock-faced basalt with red sandstone dressings and quoins
Windows: original timber sashes; replacement timber and iron casement

Historical information

The parish hall at St. Mark’s Church of Ireland on the Ligoneil Road, a basalt hall formerly utilised as a national schoolhouse, was constructed in 1874-75. The adjoining Gothic Revival Church was originally built in 1854-56 but underwent two alterations in the second half of the 19th century which gave the building its current High Victorian appearance. The church was constructed as a result of the increase in the local population of the area. The industrial development of the townlands of Ballysillan and Ligoniel, which included the construction of beetling mills, the laying out of numerous bleach greens and the subsequent erection of housing for workers, resulted in the formation of a new residential suburb to the west of Belfast (the influx of labourers from the country into the town in the aftermath of the Irish Famine further contributed to the increase of the local population).

St. Marks’ Church of Ireland was constructed on land granted by Elizabeth May, a local landowner and quarry owner. Brett believed that the church was designed by Charles Lanyon although Larmour suggests that the design was more likely the work of Lanyon’s chief assistant, W. H. Lynn, with whom he had entered into partnership in 1854 or 1855. The foundation stone was laid on 25th May 1854 and two years later St. Mark’s Church of Ireland was consecrated on 1st May 1856 (Brett; Larmour, p, 46; DIA). When first completed St. Mark’s Church was a simple rectangular-shaped building. This was altered into the current High Victorian church following two major extensions of the building that were carried out in 1866 and 1885-86 (see HB26/39/006A for full history of the church).

The parish hall adjoining the church was originally constructed as a national schoolhouse and was erected in 1874-75. McCourt’s history of the parish church records that the foundation stone of the school was laid on 28th November 1874 by Mrs. W. Ewart (the Ewart family were prominent members of the congregation who operated the local Glenbank Bleachgreen and Mountain Spinning Mill and for whom many of the church’s stained glass windows and memorials are dedicated). McCourt states that a bottle, containing the local newspapers of the day, a selection of coins and a report of the Select Vestry, was placed within the cavity of the foundation stone. The architect of the school is not known although construction work was contracted out to John Davidson, a local builder with premises on Canning Street. The school was officially opened on 10th December 1875 and was described by a contemporary report in the following terms: ‘The exterior of the building [is] harmonious with the adjoining church, while the interior is beautifully fitted up and admirably adapted for school purposes’ (McCourt). Following the completion of the school the total rateable value of St. Mark’s Church of Ireland was increased from £45 to £62.

St. Mark’s National School was recorded on the third edition Ordnance Survey map (1901) which depicted it along its current layout although without the single-storey flat-roof blocks at the front of the building, which were not added until the mid-20th century. The collaborative local history 'Last of the Mill Villages: Ligoniel' records that the school received grant aid from the National School System and possessed a head teacher (who was paid £143 per annum) as well as four assistant teachers and four monitors. The school continued to be funded by the National School System, and administered by St. Mark’s Church (following the Partition of Ireland), until it was transferred to the Belfast Education Authority in 1928. The building remained in use as a public elementary school until the 1960s. Under the First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1936-57) the total rateable value of the schoolhouse was set at £75. The building ceased to be used as a school in 1969 when it was converted into a church hall. The hall was officially opened by Sir. Ivan Ewart and was dedicated by the Lord Bishop of Connor, the Rt. Rev. R. C. H. G. Elliott on 10th May 1969. The conversion of the building included the construction of the single-storey flat roof extensions to the north and south sides of the school and resulted in an increase in the value of the building to £352 under the Second General revaluation (1956-72). St. Mark’s Church of Ireland was listed in 1987. Field inspection of the site, carried out as part of the Second Survey, has found that the building continues to be utilised as a church hall.

References

Primary Sources
1. PRONI OS/6/1/60/2 – Second Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1857)
2. PRONI OS/6/1/60/3 – Third Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1901)
3. PRONI OS/6/1/60/4 – Fourth Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1920-31)
4. PRONI OS/6/1/60/5 – Fifth Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1920-38)
5. PRONI VAL/2/B/1/21B – Griffith’s Valuation (1859)
6. PRONI VAL/12/B/5/8A-F – Annual Revisions (1862-1897)
7. PRONI VAL/12/B/43/M/1-7 – Annual Revisions (1897-1930)
8. PRONI VAL/3/C/3/22 – First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1936-57)
9. PRONI VAL/4/B//7/35 – Second General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1956-72)
10. Ulster Town Directories (1852-1943)
11. First Survey Record – HB26/39/006 (1986)
12. NIEA HB Records – HB26/39/006

Secondary Sources
1. ‘The last of the mill villages: Ligoniel’ Belfast: Workers Educational Association, 1981.
2. Brett, C. E. B., ‘Buildings of Belfast: 1700-1914’ Belfast: Friar’s Bush Press, 1985.
3. Larmour, P., ‘Belfast: An illustrated architectural guide’ Belfast: Friar’s Bush Press, 1987.
4. Leslie, J. B., ‘Clergy of Connor’ Belfast: The Ulster Historical Foundation, 1993.
5. McCourt, W. A., ‘The first hundred years: being a history of St. Mark’s Parish Church, Ballysillan, Belfast’ Glasgow: The Ecclesiastical Press Ltd., 1952.

Online Resources
1. Dictionary of Irish Architects - http://www.dia.ie/
2. St. Mark’s Church of Ireland website - http://stmarksballysillan.org.uk/index.asp

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

A small former national school, in simplified Gothic style built between 1874-5 by local builder John Davidson designed possibly by Charles Lanyon's assistant WH Lynn. Cruciform plan set on a N S axis with the crossing to the southern side and a large flat roofed extension built in 1969 to the N. Small projecting porch abutted to E transept and large gabled section abutted to N of W transept and in parallel with main building. Two small separate flat roofed extensions of unknown date to S of both E and W transepts. Roof crowned by lead capped cupola with weathervane at crossing and roof gables have chimneys to apex. Main hall has original roof trusses set on moulded stone corbels.

Although later extensions detract from the building's overall character it retains many original internal features including its cruciform plan, braced timber roof trusses and in some areas timber sliding sash windows. It is well detailed externally, with random coursed rock-faced external walling, red sandstone dressings and a lead topped cupola with weathervane. This is a small building of character having local historical and social significance and with added group value with the adjacent listed St Marks Church (HB26/39/006A).