Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB16/14/003

Address :
Former National School Donaghmore Road Glebe Newry Co Down BT34 1SE

Townland:
Glebe

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Survey 2:
B2

Date of Listing:
27/02/2004 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Hall

Former Use
School

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
No

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
252/3

IG Ref:
J1039 3499

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Owner Category

Church - C of I

Exterior Description And Setting

Two-storey former schoolhouse aligned N-S on corner of Aughnacavan Road and Donaghmore Road. Due to the site, the ground floor of the E elevation is completely embanked in earth and the entrance here is at first floor (see later). Pitched natural slate roof, with skews and a rendered chimney to each gable. Walls are lime rendered rubble stone. The front (E) elevation, embanked with earth at ground floor, has a small gabled porch at first floor centre. Porch has a pitched natural slate roof tied into the main roof but with lower eaves level. Half round rainwater goods and a Gothic-style bargeboard. Walls are as those to main block. Front of porch has a t+g sheeted door with bead mouldings and dressed granite threshold. In apex above door is a modern painted sign reading “DONAGHMORE/ GLEBE NATIONAL SCHOOL”. The N and S cheeks of porch each have a narrow window - the N one is margin paned and coloured glazed, and the S one is part infilled and plain. There is a single rectangular window opening to either side of the porch. Each opening is laid horizontal, has a dressed granite cill and contains a pair of margin paned timber casement windows (in very poor condition). The right (N) gable is blank and its ground floor is partially embanked with earth. W elevation has three openings on each floor. Entrance is set to right of centre, and contains a t+g sheeted door with dressed granite threshold. The remaining two ground floor openings are 6/2 (formerly 6/6) exposed box sliding sashes with dressed granite cills. The first floor has three similar window openings, equally spaced. All contain replacement aluminium framed 6/6 sliding sashes in earlier timber sash boxes. Left (S) gable is abutted by single storey lean-to outbuilding with monopitched natural slate roof, walls as main block and doorway (door gone) on S side. Setting: The E boundary is a dwarf wall with pyramidal coped piers, plain wrought iron gate and horizontal bar railings. The other elevations open onto a field (once the school yard and school master’s garden).

Architects

Not Known

Historical Information

There is said to have been a parish school here since 1725. The present building was erected by the parish in 1818 at a cost of £81.10s.0d. The first school master, William Robinson, was employed and resident by 1820 on a salary of £30 per year. Cited in the 1835, 1859 and 1903 OS 6" maps as 'school house', 'infant school' and 'Glebe school' respectively. Described in the 1836 Valuation as measuring 31ft x 15ft x 14ft, with a 7ft 6in high basement; the ground on which it stands was donated by the rector of the parish. Primary sources: 1. S. Lewis, 1837, Topographical dictionary of Ireland, vol.1, p.468. 2. OS 6" map, 1834, Co Down sheet 40 (PRONI OS 6/3/40/1). 3. First Valuation, 1836 (PRONI VAL 1B/355, p.144). 4. OS 6" map, 1859, Co Down sheet 40 (PRONI OS 6/3/40/2). 5. OS 6" map, 1903, Co Down sheet 40 (PRONI OS 6/3/40/3). Secondary Sources: 1. Information from Mr Walter McClean (churchwarden). 2. Rev. J. Davison Cowan, “A Country Parish, that of Donaghmore.” London, 1914.

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style C. Ornamentation D. Plan Form J. Setting K. Group value

Historic Interest

Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance X. Local Interest

Evaluation

This early 19thC schoolhouse is located on the hillside beside St Bartholomew’s churchyard. A plainly detailed vernacular building in virtually original condition, it is unusual in this area of Co Down to find an 18th C church, its glebe house and parish school in such close proximity.

General Comments

Date of Survey

02 March 2000