The Former St. Malachy'S School, 21 Oxford St., Belfast

A diminutive two-storey gabled ashlar stone schoolhouse of 1874 in the Gothic style by Alex McAllister, located on Oxford Street, and abutted by buildings to either side. Roof of natural slate, pitched, with cast iron rainwater goods. Walling is ashlar sandstone with pink banding; red brick to rear (partial remains only.) Windows are replacement timber , Gothic arched and cusped to first floor. Principal gable in cream sandstone with pink banding with small rose window and pierced quatrefoil above it having fine banding over. Almost symmetrical, but the doorcase is set forward to one side, embraced by Venetian capitals and incised lettering recording it as a Christian Brothers School. Date of founding (1874) on shield above the door. Arcades of windows, three pointed at ground floor and four cusped at first floor. Modern fenestration in four panes each. Polychrome decoration over the windows, with alternate pink and cream sandstone. Abutted by a modern building to left and a three storey redbrick building to right. Part of the original red brick back wall remains, but the building has been extended beyond it. Setting This has lost much of its original context, although the buildings to the N are roughly similar in date. However its small scale and distinctive character make it an important building for its area. Schedule of materials: Walls: Ashlar sandstone; rear wall red brick. Windows: timber Roof: natural slate RWG: Cast iron