Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB11/09/005 A

Address :
Officers’ Mess, Building 16 St. Lucia’s Barracks Barracks Lane Omagh Co. Tyrone BT78

Townland:
Gortmore

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Survey 2:
B1

Date of Listing:
28/01/1998 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Barracks

Former Use
Barracks

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
No

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
137-4NE

IG Ref:
H4480 7300

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Owner Category

Central Govt

Exterior Description And Setting

A detached multi-bay two-storey-over-basement barracks mess hall, built 1881, probably by the contractors Messrs. Colhoun Brothers of Derry to designs by Mr. James H. Butler, C.E., located to the west side of the St Lucia’s Barracks parade ground, east of Barracks Lane. T-shaped on plan, facing east with two gabled projections and a gabled entrance porch. To either side is an advanced single-storey gable-fronted wing, that to the right contemporary with main structure, that to the left of a later date (c.1990) and attached to a further setback wing. Several original gabled single and two-storey returns to rear. Pitched natural slate roofs, cut sandstone verges on sandstone kneeler stones and large stone chimneystacks with terracotta chimneypots, ogee-profiled cast-iron gutters and half-round cast-iron downpipes. Walling is random-coursed squared rock-faced limestone with ashlar sandstone dressings including splayed plinth, projecting sill, lintel and eaves courses, flush platband at mid-window level, and quoins. All gables have a ventilation loop to apex dressed in ashlar sandstone and with platband beneath. Sqaure-headed window openings with uPVC windows, dressed sandstone sills, dressed sandstone surrounds having stop-chamfer reveals and bull-nosed lintels. Principal (east) elevation is nine windows wide with a full-height gabled projection to the left, having two windows to the first floor, three to the ground floor. To the centre is a further lower gabled projection, two windows wide and a single-storey gabled entrance porch. The porch has three round-headed glazed apertures to apex over a segmental-headed entrance opening with voussoired and bull-nosed archivolt, flanked by two-stage sandstone buttresses and accessed by four stone steps with bootscraper to right. A modern steel staircase located to the left of the entrance porch descends to the basement channel. Single storey extensions each contain a paired window. South elevation is abutted by modern south wing (detailed as main block). Exposed section is blank. Rear (west) elevation is abutted by projecting bay to centre, single-storey lean-to extension (of no interest) and return to right end. Exposed section has a number of equally spaced windows and a segmental-arch-headed replacement door leading to basement; there is a wall-head gable to right of centre. Return is further extended by a lower addition, the gable of which forms part of the west boundary wall of the site and fronts the street; the return right cheek has two windows to each floor, left cheek has variety of diminished first floor windows, ground floor has blind loops to right end and a replacement door accessed by concrete steps. North gable is abutted by north wing; exposed section is blank with chimneybreast to centre. North wing is single-storey to east, rising to two-storey at west with sloping ground; there are windows to each floor at north and a uPVC porch rises from external stone steps; west gable is cement rendered. Setting:- The officer’s mess hall is situated within the enclosed St. Lucia’s Barracks complex at the west side of the parade ground with clockwise from hall, the Waterloo and St. Lucia’s Barracks Block (HB11/09/005B), St. Lucia’s Club (HB11/09/005C), Sergeant’s Mess Hall (HB11/09/005D), Battalion Headquarters, South Africa and two stores (HB11/09/005E), Guardroom (HB11/09/005F) and Army Recruiting Centre (HB11/09/005G). Roof: Natural slate Walling: Limestone Windows: UPVC RWG: Cast-iron

Architects

Butler, James H

Historical Information

The Officer’s Mess was built in 1881, as part of the infantry barracks, probably by the contractors Messrs. Colhoun Brothers of Derry. The barracks, presently known as St. Lucia’s, were built for the Royal Inniskilling Fusilier Regiment under the direction of Mr. James H. Butler, C.E., the superintending officer of the Royal Engineer Department by the contractors Messrs. Fulton of Belfast and Messrs. Colhoun Brothers of Derry. The original buildings were “built of the local limestone, with Dungannon grit-stone dressings [and] all the external walls are brick lined as preventative to damp….” (Tyrone Constitution 16th December 1881). The buildings first appear on an 1882 ordnance survey town plan of Omagh captioned “Infantry Barracks”. The “Old Barracks” are captioned behind the gaol (HB11/09/004A-D). The Officer’s Mess is captioned on this map as “Officers’ Quarters”. “Soldiers Quarters,” “Canteen,” “Hospital,” “Guard Room” (HB11/09/005A, B, D, E and F) are also captioned. In 1879, a new entry is made in Annual Revision records, “Northern range of new Military Barracks, consisting of regimental shops and stores, Paymasters Office, soldiers quarters, Militia Office and Bread Store, Regimental Shop and meat store. Central Military Station. Northern Division. £265. Also commanding officers and orderly room, guard room &c. £35.” A marginal note records: “45x45x24 – 1 storey, 270x25½ - 3 storeys. Cost estimated 14,000, extras 1,500, total about 15,500. Chisel dressed limestone with freestone coins built by Fulton of Belfast and a further contract of £25,000 has been taken by Cahoon of Derry.” In 1881, a further entry is made: “Eastern & Western Division £500.” The Tyrone Constitution of 1881 reports that “some years ago the government purchased a piece of ground at the rear of the old Militia Barracks, Omagh, and on this have been erected buildings to meet all the requirements of a Brigade Depot Barracks…. The works which cost from £30,000-£40,000 have been carried out in a most satisfactory manner… On the west stands the Officers’ Mess and quarters—a very handsome building. Beside the Mess and Ante-room, and the usual appurtenances of an Officers’ Mess, there are quarters in it for eight officers with accommodation for their servants in the basement storey. The field officers’ quarters are connected with this building, but have separate entrances…The internal fittings generally are most elegant…The passages are laid with ornamented encaustic tiling, on a floor of concrete. It may be here noted that this kind of floor, finished smooth without tiles, obtains very much throughout, as all the passages, landing, corridors, kitchen, sculleries, yards, etc. has been laid of it. The ground floor windows are fitted with patent revolving shutters…Polished mahogany presses, finely wrought Portland stone chimney pieces, etc. are found in all the officers’ rooms and massive marble chimney pieces in the Mess and Anterooms. All the other fittings are quite in keeping with the general character of the building”. References: Primary Sources 1. OS/8/40/1/1-5 – Ordnance Survey Town Plan of Omagh (1882) 2. VAL/12/B/41/36A-H – Annual Revision Records (1860-1903) 3. VAL/12/E/186/1/2-3 – Annual Revisions Town Plan (1882-1909) Secondary Sources 1. Coey, Alastair. “St. Lucia’s Barracks, Omagh, Condition Report.” (February 2007). Prepared for the Ministry of Defense. Belfast: Alastair Coey Architects, 2007. 2.“Col. George B. Stokes” “Tyrone Constitution.” 28 October 1881. Quoted in Mitchell, Haldane, ed. “Images of Omagh and District.” Vol. 6 (Omagh: Rotary Club of Omagh, 1998), p.22. 3. Core, John. “Historical Record of the 2nd (Now 80th), Or Royal Tyrone Fusilier Regiment of Militia, From the Embodiment in 1793 to the Present Time.” Omagh: Alexander Scarlet, 1872. 4. Elliott, Wesley J. “The History of the 5th (Territorial Army) Battalion The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers” in Haldane Mitchell, ed. “Images of Omagh and District.” Vol. 7. (Omagh: Rotary Club of Omagh, 1999), p.152-155. 5. Mitchell, Haldane, ed. “Images of Omagh and District.” Vol. 2. Omagh: Rotary Club of Omagh, 1991. 6. Mitchell, Haldane, ed. “Images of Omagh and District.” Vol. 6. Omagh: Rotary Club of Omagh, 1998. 7. “New Military Barracks at Omagh.” “Tyrone Constitution.” 16 December 1881. Quoted in Mitchell, Haldane, ed. “Images of Omagh and District.” Vol. 6 (Omagh: Rotary Club of Omagh, 1998), p.22. 8. “Omagh Cricket Club – vs. – Royal Iniskilling Fusiliers.” “Tyrone Constitution.” 30 September 1881. Quoted in Mitchell, Haldane, ed. “Images of Omagh and District.” Vol. 6 (Omagh: Rotary Club of Omagh, 1998), p.22. 9. Rowan, Alistair. “North West Ulster: Londonderry, Donegal, Fermanagh, and Tyrone.” Buildings of Ireland Series. Dublin: Penguin Books, 1979. 10. “Soldiers for a New Barracks.” “Tyrone Constitution.” 2 September 1881.Quoted in Mitchell, Haldane, ed. “Images of Omagh and District.” Vol. 6 (Omagh: Rotary Club of Omagh, 1998), p.22.

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

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

Historic Interest

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

Evaluation

A detached multi-bay two-storey-over-basement barracks mess hall, built 1881, probably by the contractors Messrs. Colhoun Brothers of Derry. This substantial mess hall has fine proportions and style and is a component of a distinct architectural group comprising the late-nineteenth-century barracks complex. Externally, the structure displays fine Victorian masonry and a robust style. Although some modernisation has taken place, it retains many original architectural features of merit. The barracks complex occupies an elevated and imposing site in the town, reflecting an important aspect of the architectural and social heritage of Omagh, as well as strong historic links to The Royal Irish Regiment and The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. The complex is unusual in its completeness and degree of preservation.

General Comments

Previoulsy recorded as HB11/09/005 - renumbered with suffix A

Date of Survey

01 May 2009