Survey Data
Reg No
40309011
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Social
Original Use
School
Date
1875 - 1880
Coordinates
231098, 307137
Date Recorded
14/06/2012
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached T-plan four-bay single-storey school, built 1876, with lower advanced gabled central bay having entrances to sides under cat-slide roofs rising to main eaves level. Now disused. Pitched slate roof on continuous underlayer of sarking boards, clay ridge tiles, and timber rafter-ends to eaves. Chimneystack to rear now overgrown, sections of cast-iron rainwater goods remaining. Snecked sandstone walls, red-brick block-and-start surrounds to openings with brick flat-arches over and chamfered sandstone sills to windows. Carved stone plaque on central gable reading "KILLASHANDRA/NATIONAL SCHOOL/1876". Coursed rubble stone walls to rear elevation with no openings. Windows boarded-up, with one multiple paned timber window to south elevation. Low entrance doors to both sides of advanced central bay with timber sheeted doors. Set behind coursed rubble stone boundary walls with forged-metal pedestrian gate in square-profile piers set on axis with entrance gable. Similar pedestrian entrance to north end of boundary wall. Rear boundary wall to Castle Hamilton demesne overgrown and inaccessible.
Appraisal
A disused school retaining its distinctive appearance that is characteristic of mid to late nineteenth century educational architecture. The composition is well-balanced and picturesque and retains many salient features including the slate roof and robust stone walls with contrasting red-brick dressings. The school provided free primary education under the national school system to Church of Ireland children in the town for almost 100 years prior to the construction of a new school, making it an important part of the town's social heritage. It forms part of an architectural ensemble of related Church of Ireland structures including the Church of Ireland church, Martin Memorial Hall, rectory and its former gate lodge. The gate in the boundary wall to the north once led to Castle Hamilton demesne. It occupies a prominent roadside location and contributes to the historic character of the street.