Former schoolhouse at 80 Glenanne Road, Glenanne, Markethill, Armagh, BT60 2JA

Former Schoolhouse at Glenanne

This single-storey schoolhouse was built in 1885, as confirmed by a datestone reading 'Glenanne AD 1885' set near the eaves on the north-west elevation. The building stands in a rural location to the east of Glenanne Road, approximately 6 kilometres south-south-east of Markethill, situated just south of a neighbouring dwelling house that appears to have been the schoolmaster's or schoolmistress's residence.

The building is a relatively simple rectangular structure with a gable end, oriented on a north-east to south-west axis. At its south-west end is a gabled porch projection with a small lean-to. A flat-roofed extension of circa 1960s date runs across the full width of the north-east end. The main entrance is located on the north-west face of the porch and has a metal-sheeted door. Much of the cement render has recently been stripped away, revealing rubble stone walls beneath.

The architectural detailing is restrained. Each of the long south-east and north-west sides of the main section contains four pointed arch window openings with timber sliding sash frames fitted with double-lancet tracery. A similar window is present on the gable of the porch. The overhanging roof is covered in natural Welsh slate with decorative timber barge boards and decorative clay ridge tiles. The flat-roofed extension has several small high-level windows. The building displays a mixture of cast iron and plastic rainwater goods.

The school appears to have originally been part of the National School system, becoming a primary school after 1948. It was still operating as such in 1957 but closed before 1979. The building appears to have been used for indoor sports for part of the time after closure. In November 1929, medical officers reported the school in poor condition, describing it as 'smelly and bad' with water closets that were 'deplorably foul and dilapidated…not kept in good order'. Substantial alterations have been made over the years, with the porch extension and toilet block both appearing to date from after 1957.

The interior appears to have been stripped of its original detailing in the mid-20th century.

Glenanne itself developed during the 19th century as a mill village. The mills were established by William Atkinson in 1816 and originally produced cotton, with the workforce reaching 250 by 1838. Many workers occupied a row of dwellings at the northern end of the settlement, which later evolved into two long two-storey terraces known as 'Orange Row'. The mills were acquired by William Gray & Sons of Dublin in 1845 and converted to linen manufacture. From circa 1937 they were owned by John Compton & Co., then sold to a Belgian company in 1998. The mill buildings remained in operation until 2009 and were demolished in 2014.