Guardhouse, boundary wall and attached memorials, St. Lucia’s Barracks, Barracks Lane, Omagh, Co. Tyrone, BT78

Guardhouse, Boundary Wall and Attached Memorials, St. Lucia's Barracks, Omagh

This is a detached, multi-bay, single-storey barracks guardhouse built around 1880, designed by Mr. James H. Butler, C.E., the superintending officer of the Royal Engineer Department, and constructed by contractors Messrs. Fulton of Belfast. It stands at the entrance to the St. Lucia's Barracks complex on the south side of the parade ground, east of Barracks Lane, and formed the southernmost structure of the original complex before the later erection of the Army Recruitment Office. Despite significant extensions and alterations, the building retains fine proportions, a robust Victorian character, and displays accomplished 19th-century craftsmanship.

Architectural Description

The building is U-shaped on plan, facing west. Later additions include an L-plan extension to the west and a lean-to veranda abutting both the west and north elevations. The roofs are pitched and finished in natural slate with blue/black angled clay ridge tiles. Rainwater goods are cast iron, fixed to timber eaves fascias. Chimneystacks are of dressed stone and red brick.

The external walling is of random coursed, squared, rock-faced local limestone set over a tooled chamfered plinth — consistent with the original construction noted in the Tyrone Constitution of 16 December 1881, which described the barracks as "built of the local limestone, with Dungannon grit-stone dressings," with all external walls brick-lined as a precaution against damp. Window openings are square-headed with painted timber 4/4 sash windows (most fitted with metal grilles) set within dressed sandstone surrounds with painted stone sills. Door openings are also square-headed and fitted with vertically sheeted timber doors.

The principal west elevation is entirely obscured by the later veranda, which is of no special architectural interest. This veranda area is paved in concrete and enclosed by a low wall built of simulated rock-faced stone, with iron posts supporting the veranda roof. Several windows and doors open onto this enclosed area. The north elevation is similarly abutted by the veranda, though an exposed section retains a variety of original doors and windows. The rear east elevation is entirely abutted by the later extension, which is detailed to match the main block and includes dressed quoins along with a variety of windows and doors.

Historical Background

The barracks complex was built for the Royal Inniskilling Fusilier Regiment on land purchased by the government at the rear of the old Militia Barracks in Omagh. The works, which cost between £30,000 and £40,000 in total, were carried out under Butler's direction, with Messrs. Fulton of Belfast and Messrs. Colhoun Brothers of Derry as the principal contractors.

Annual Revision records from 1879 describe the new northern range as comprising regimental shops and stores, a Paymaster's Office, soldiers' quarters, a Militia Office, a Bread Store, a Regimental Shop, a meat store, a commanding officer's room, an orderly room, and a guard room, among other facilities. The estimated cost at that stage was £14,000 with extras of £1,500, with a further contract of £25,000 taken by Cahoon of Derry. A further addition valued at £500 was recorded in 1881. The buildings first appear on an 1882 Ordnance Survey town plan of Omagh, captioned "Infantry Barracks."

The Tyrone Constitution of 16 December 1881 described the guardhouse specifically: "On entering the front gateway of the new barracks we pass on the right the guard-house, a one-storey building with a veranda and flank towards the parade. Besides the prisoner's rooms, cells, etc., this building also contains the Commanding Officer's office and Orderly room which are entered off the flank or parade front." The same article noted that the guardhouse had been built approximately three years earlier but had remained unoccupied until recently.

Setting and Group Value

The guardhouse sits within the enclosed St. Lucia's Barracks complex and forms part of a cohesive and unusually complete late 19th-century barracks group. Arranged clockwise around the parade ground are the Army Recruiting Centre, the Officers' Mess Hall, the Waterloo and St. Lucia's Barracks Block, St. Lucia's Club, the Sergeants' Mess Hall, and the Battalion Headquarters with South Africa Block and two stores. The complex occupies an elevated and imposing site in Omagh, and its exceptional completeness and degree of preservation make it a significant example of Victorian military architecture. It reflects an important dimension of the architectural and social heritage of the town and retains strong historic associations with both The Royal Irish Regiment and The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.