Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB01/21/004

Address :
Craig Memorial Hall Infirmary Road Londonderry County Londonderry BT48 7PB

Townland:
Edenballymore

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Survey 2:
B2

Date of Listing:
26/02/1979 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Hall

Former Use
Hall

Conservation Area:
Yes

Industrial Archaeology:
No

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
36-3SE

IG Ref:
C4309 1723

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Owner Category

Exterior Description And Setting

Five-bay Victorian Neo-gothic gable-ended hall, built 1878, of local schist with sandstone dressings situated on a triangular island site bounded by Infirmary Road to the West, Northland Road to the East and a small laneway to the South. Square-headed windows with replacement iron casement frames, pitched slate roof with crested clay ridge tiles and sandstone barges with ridgestone embellished with decorative cast iron finial. Principal entrance facing West looking onto Infirmary Road bounded by plain cast iron railing set on low rendered boundary wall and cast iron gate and gateposts, with projecting gable and later extension to South side with hipped slate roof and modern flush timber door. Gable with central Barony Glen sandstone circular datestone with hoodmould and label stop flanked by lancet casement windows and blocked up roof vent above. Ashlar banding in red Drumfries sandstone to sill, shoulder and head level, with ashlar Barony Glen sandstone quoins to corners. North elevation with large central three light plate tracery window with rose window and four quatrefoil lights of Barony Glen sandstone with ashlar Drumfries sandstone hoodband and replacement iron casement frame. Triple lancet roof vent to apex. Gabled transept wing with cusped arched doorway flanked by short collonettes and original timber sheeted door. Modern rooflight above. East elevation faces onto Francis Street with battered base and basement openings blocked up. Five bays wide with symmetrical fenestration. South elevation with central circular window flanked by round-headed lancet windows with single lancet roof vent at apex. Setting: Situated on a triangular island site bounded by Infirmary Road to the West, Northland Road to the East and a small laneway to the South, with entrance porch to the West side. Materials: Roof: Natural Slate Rainwater goods: Cast Iron Walling; Sandstone Windows: Replacement

Architects

Ferguson, John Guy

Historical Information

According to its datestone, the Craig Memorial Hall, a Victorian neo-Gothic gable-ended hall, was opened in 1878; the Ulster Town Directories for Londonderry record that the building was originally designed as a school and was in the course of construction from 1877. The Craig Memorial Hall was designed by John Guy Ferguson (1829-1901), a Derry-based architect who was the son of John Ferguson, architect of Christ Church (HB01/22/002). Ferguson had been appointed official architect to Derry and Raphoe diocese of the Church of Ireland in 1868 and operated from offices in Shipquay Street, East Wall and Pump Street before his death in 1901. The UAHS guide for Londonderry described Ferguson’s work as ‘a bold use of flat wall surface, brick or stone. The articulation of his facades is usually restrained and, like many high Victorian architects, he delights in a crisp square finish to window reveals, piers and string courses.’ Ferguson’s neo-Gothic design was constructed by the local building firm of Robert Colhoun (UAHS guide, p. 61; Dictionary of Irish Architects). The Craig Memorial Hall was first recorded in the Annual Revisions in 1877; in that year the building was valued at £40. The hall was originally utilised as a schoolhouse (known as the Craig Memorial Hall National School) from 1878 but was also utilised as a hall for the neighbouring Christ Church and for cultural and social events (on 28th September 1912 the Londonderry Sentinel recorded that the Craig Memorial Hall was used as a venue for the signing of the Ulster Covenant). The hall continued to be utilised as a schoolhouse until 1929. From that year the Select Vestry of Christ Church solely utilised the building as a church hall. The value of the hall was increased to £80 under the First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1935) and remained at this level by the end of the Second Revaluation (1956-72). In 1970 the UAHS described the Craig Memorial Hall as a ‘small hall-type edifice in neo-Gothic style constructed in whinstone with sandstone dressings. It has a simple pointed arch doorway in the gable fronting onto the street. The windows are similar’ (UAHS, p. 48). In 1978 the Department of the Environment included the Craig Memorial Hall in the Clarendon Street Conservation Area, ‘an area of special architectural or historic interest, the character of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance’ (Londonderry Clarendon Street Conservation Area Booklet). The hall was subsequently listed in 1979. References Primary Sources 1. PRONI OS/6/5/20/1 – First Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1830) 2. PRONI OS/6/5/20/2 – Second Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1853) 3. PRONI VAL/2/B/5/16G – Griffith’s Valuation (1856) 4. PRONI VAL/12/B/32/11B-ZA – Annual Revisions (1862-1897) 5. PRONI VAL/12/B/33/2C-2F – Annual Revisions (1898-1931) 6. PRONI VAL/3/B/6/4 – First General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1935) 7. PRONI VAL/4/B/5/13-14 – Second General Revaluation of Property in Northern Ireland (1956-72) 8. Ulster Town Directories (1852-1918) 9. Londonderry Sentinel (1 Apr 2010) 10. First Survey Record – HB01/21/004 (1970) 11. First Survey Image – HB01/21/004 (No Date) 12. NIEA HB Records – HB01/21/004 Secondary Sources 1. Calley, D., ‘City of Derry: An historical gazetteer to the buildings of Londonderry’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 2013. 2. Ferguson, W. S; Rowan, A. J; Tracey, J. J., ‘List of historic buildings, groups of buildings, areas of architectural importance in and near the city of Derry’ Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1970. 3. Rowan, A. J., ‘The Buildings of Ireland: North West Ulster’ London: Yale University Press, 2003. 4. ‘Londonderry Clarendon Street Conservation Area Booklet’ Department of the Environment, 1978. 5. ‘Design Guide for Clarendon Street Conservation Area’ Department of the Environment, 2012. Online Resources 1. Dictionary of Irish Architects - http://www.dia.ie

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

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

Historic Interest

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

Evaluation

Five-bay Victorian Gothic Revival gabled hall, built 1878, to designs of the prominent local architect John Guy Ferguson, of local schist and sandstone dressings with gabled transept wing to West. Originally designed as a school, it was also used as a hall (to nearby Christ Church ) for social and cultural occasions. Significantly in 1912, it was used as a venue for the signing of the Ulster Covenant. Despite the loss of original windows, sufficient character of this building remains, with its simple plan form, detailing consistent with its time and style, and set within a prominent island triangular site, it is a important building in the Clarendon Conservation Area.

General Comments

Additional listing criteria apply - R-Age & S-Authenticity

Date of Survey

18 February 2014