Abercorn Primary School, Newry Road, Banbridge, Co Down, BT32 3HR

A symmetrical red-brick primary school dated 1931 comprising a long two-storey-over-semi-basement linear main block with gabled ends and two-storey gabled return to rear to designs by Castor J. Love. Also abutted to rear by a two-storey modern addition housing classrooms, and a single-storey corridor adjoining a double-height dining hall, all c.1960. Located on an elevated site to the west side of Newry Road in Banbridge town centre. Pitched natural slate roof with blue/black angled ridge tiles and leaded valleys; rosemary tiled roof to return; red-brick square chimneystack and bargeboards to gables. Cast-iron ogee rainwater goods on projecting eaves with timber soffits and fascia boards; cast-iron hoppers and downpipes. Walling is stretcher-bonded red-brick on a smooth rendered moulded plinth with smooth rendered string course above windows (continuous to end bays) and smooth rendered sill course. Windows are six and three-paned replacement uPVC with painted masonry lintels and projecting cills. The principal elevation faces southeast and is symmetrically arranged, comprising a linear block with projecting gabled ends and central entrance bay. Entrance bay is taller with a stepped parapet; recessed double-leaf panelled-and-glazed timber door with margin-paned overlight and first floor three paned window flanked by brick pilaster with stepped heads to each floor in typical Art Deco style. To centre above first floor window is a painted date stone reading “1931”. Left and right bays are each four windows wide to either floor (each window is separated by a plain buttress); gabled ends are flanked by plain clasping buttresses and have three windows to each floor (that to centre is narrow) and louvered vents with smooth rendered surround instepping at reveals and string course to gable. The southwest elevation is flanked by plain clasping buttresses and is three windows wide (that to centre is wider) with each window separated by a plain buttress. The northwest (rear) elevation is abutted at centre by the original two-storey gabled return, connected to the main linear block by a two-storey flat-roof projection and abutted to southeast by the single-storey corridor (c.1960). At far right is the modern two-storey addition. The northeast elevation is flanked by plain clasping buttresses and is three windows wide (that to centre is wider) with each window separated by a plain buttress. Setting Set on an elevated site to the west side of Newry Road, accessed via a tarmacadam driveway with modern high metal railings and gates. Site is bounded to road to southeast by modern timber fence and mature trees. Lawned to front with tarmacadam car-park and large tarmacadam playground to rear. To southwest is a modern housing estate. Roof: Natural slate / rosemary tiles Walling: Brick Windows: uPVC RWG: Cast-iron