76 Hilden View, Tullynacross Road, Lambeg, Lisburn, Co.Antrim, BT27 5SF

A detached double-height single-storey stone and brick former school, dated 1849, extensively renovated and converted for use as two dwellings around 2002. This record is for the left-hand house, number 76.

The building features a pitched natural slate roof with roll-moulded black clay ridge tiles and steel roof lights. Decorative pierced timber bargeboards ornament the gable end, with cast-iron guttering on iron brackets supporting the overhanging eaves, which rest on exposed rafter feet. The walls are constructed of random rubblestone with redbrick quoins and redbrick surrounds to all openings.

The front east elevation contains a Tudor-arched door opening to the left, formed in redbrick with a vertically-sheeted timber door, and two cast-iron lattice windows to the right. The windows throughout the building feature camber-arched redbrick openings with painted masonry sills and original bipartite Tudor-arched latticed iron windows with original cylinder glass, unless otherwise stated. The front roof has a single conservation-type roof light.

The gabled south elevation displays a single square-headed window opening with tripartite iron latticed glazing, a transom, and arched overlights. A diminutive window opening in the gable contains a fixed-pane timber window. The rear west elevation has a replacement tripartite hardwood window matching that of number 74. The rear roof contains two conservation-type roof lights.

The building sits rectangular on plan, facing east on the west side of Tullynacross Road on an elevated site. The front elevation is enclosed to Tullynacross Road by a dry stone wall and shared wrought-iron gates, while the rear and north-side elevations are fronted by embankments that step down to the lower level of the surrounding terrain.

The conversion into two dwellings successfully retained the original fenestration to the front and gable, though the interior has been largely changed. The picturesque former school substantially retains its original appearance and remains an important building in the social history of the area.

Historical Context

The school was constructed in 1849 and first appears captioned "Parochial School" on the second edition Ordnance Survey map of 1858. A school house is listed in the Townland Valuation (1828–40) for the townland of Ballyskeagh, but according to Marshall's parish history, this school was closed when the present building was erected in 1849.

Two schools were built in or around 1849, coinciding with the rebuilding of the Parish Church. One, situated close to the church and called "Lambeg Village School", initially catered for female pupils. The present building, known as "Lambeg School", was built in Tullynacross townland and served male pupils. The decision to build the school was taken at a church vestry meeting. Contributions were gratefully received from the late Marquis of Hertford, Jonathan Richardson Esq of Glenmore and his family, and the parishioners and others. A Committee was established as patron of the school and to appoint staff, comprising the Rector and churchwardens, Jonathan Richardson Esq, the Dean of Ross, and William Gregg Esq.

Both Lambeg Schools appear in the "Return of all Schools in connection with the Board of National Education in Ireland in operation on 21st December 1862". The patron of Lambeg (male) school is listed as the Established Church. George Richardson (Church of Ireland) served as Head and Samuel Diamond (Presbyterian) as his Assistant. The school had 190 pupils on the rolls: 89 Church of Ireland, 41 Roman Catholic, and 60 Presbyterian. The 32nd Report of the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland (1865) indicates that although there were 184 pupils on the rolls that year, the average daily attendance was 57.

The school initially came under the jurisdiction of the Church Education Society but shortly after 1860 passed to the National Board of Education. However, it continued to be carefully maintained by Messrs J N Richardson Sons & Owden until 1932, when it was transferred to the Ministry of Education for Northern Ireland.

Henry Frazer, principal of the school until 1898, was responsible for building the "newsroom" next to the school, shown as "reading room" on the third edition Ordnance Survey map (1902).

In 1946 the school was derequisitioned and presented to the parish by Sir Milne Barbour for use as a Sunday School. It remained in use by the church until at least 1993, before being converted for use as two private houses. Lambeg Village School (female) was demolished in 1955.