Strandtown Primary School, North Road, Sydenham, Belfast, County Antrim, BT4 3DJ

Strandtown Primary School is a single-storey neo-Georgian school complex built in 1928, designed by Belfast Education architect R. S. Wilshere. The building is constructed of dark toned rustic red brick laid to stretcher-bond with artificial stone and lighter red brick dressings and quoins. The roof is hipped, finished with red-clay tiles and swept valleys, crowned with half-round red-clay ridge tiles and raised parapets. A painted cupola sits on the west wing roof. Cast-iron ogee guttering and circular downpipes serve the drainage.

The school is arranged around a quadrangle containing a double-height building and a single-storey building at its centre. Modern single-storey flat-roofed extensions occupy the southeast and southwest corners, with a further T-shaped flat-roofed extension to the northeast end.

The principal elevation faces west and is symmetrical, comprising a central three-bay shallow breakfront with projecting single-bay hipped-roof wings to north and south. The central breakfront features an artificial stone coped parapet, moulded plinth course, and brick pilasters topped with artificial stone coping and urns at each corner. The centrepiece is a square-headed pedimented door opening with moulded artificial stone architrave and cartouche, containing an original timber door with fanlight set on a paved artificial stone platform. Square-headed window openings flank the door, each with red brick dressings, gauged brick flat arch, artificial stone keystone and sill, panelled apron, and original double-hung timber sash windows. Nine bays extend north and south, each with square-headed window openings featuring artificial stone sills, flush banding at impost level, gauged brick flat arches, and original double-hung timber sash windows. The projecting corner wings have pilasters topped with artificial stone coping and urns, flush banding, and moulded plinth course; each contains a single square-headed window facing west with moulded artificial stone architrave and pediment, and a single window on the inward-facing elevations, all retaining original double-hung timber sash windows.

The north elevation of the north wing displays four symmetrical bays with pilasters to the corners topped by artificial stone coping and urns, a flush lintel course, and moulded plinth. A square-headed door opening at the centre has a painted timber architrave and hood mould, with a painted timber flush door opening onto two nosed steps. Above is a small oval window with moulded artificial stone architrave and swag hood. The four remaining bays contain square-headed window openings with moulded artificial stone sills, flush continuous lintel course, gauged brick flat arch, and original double-hung timber sash windows.

The south elevation of the south wing comprises five bays with pilasters to the corners topped by artificial stone coping and urns, flush lintel and moulded plinth course. Each bay has a square-headed window opening with moulded artificial stone sills, flush continuous lintel course, and gauged brick flat arch above, all retaining original double-hung timber sash windows. A modern single-storey flat-roofed extension abuts this wing.

The north elevation of the quadrangle-facing building consists of a symmetrical seven-bay rectangular section. The nine-bay elevation features continuous flush artificial stone lintel, sill and plinth courses with projecting eaves. The three central bays are recessed with artificial stone coping and moulded plinth course, with pilasters to corners topped by artificial stone coping and urns. A round-arch door opening at the centre has moulded artificial stone architrave and a replacement metal double door with fanlight, opening onto a single artificial stone nosed step. A pilaster and square-shaped window opening flank the door, both with red brick dressings, gauged brick flat arch, artificial stone keystone, sills and panelled apron, containing original double-hung timber sash windows. Three-part square-headed windows occupy the six remaining bays with original timber casement windows.

The east elevation is symmetrical with nine bays, abutted by modern single-storey flat-roofed extensions to north and south (of little architectural interest). The main building features projecting eaves, continuous flush artificial stone lintel, sill and plinth course. A round-arched door opening to the middle bay has moulded artificial stone architrave and a double-panelled timber door with decorative fanlight opening onto a concrete ramp. Three-part square-headed window openings in the remaining bays contain original timber casement windows.

The south elevation has nine bays with a door opening positioned off-centre to the east; modern single-storey flat-roofed extensions flank this elevation. The door opening has a square-headed pediment with moulded artificial stone architrave and opens onto two artificial stone nosed steps. A single window is set adjacent to the door, with three-part square-headed windows to the remaining bays containing original timber casement windows.

The double-height hipped rectangular building facing the quadrangle has four bays to north and south elevations with projecting eaves and moulded artificial stone course to impost level and plinth. Large round-arched French window openings with original timber casements and fanlights occupy each bay. A single-storey attached building on the east side of the quadrangle has three modern hipped roof extensions to the east and small square-headed windows to the west elevation.

The quadrangle is divided into three separate lawned areas and enclosed by single-storey flat-roofed corridors on all four sides with metal-framed curtain glazing.

The wider site includes the school complex, modern single-storey pitched-roof extensions to east and north, and a two-storey red brick pavilion listed separately. It is enclosed by gates and railings to the west (also listed), a hedge to the north, and tall fencing to the east and south. A large playing field lies to the northwest, a lawned area to the west, and concrete paved playing areas to north and south. The site has a main entrance via North Road and a secondary entrance via Earlswood Road to the rear.