Former schoolhouse at Edengrove Presbyterian Church, 11 Dromore Road, Ballymaglave north, Ballynahinch, Co Down, BT24 8AY

Former Schoolhouse at Edengrove Presbyterian Church

This substantial, two-storey former schoolhouse was built in 1841 in the vernacular classical style, constructed in random rubble stone. It stands immediately adjacent to Edengrove Presbyterian Church, a building of matching style and date, and was built in direct connection with the church. The school originally operated under the National system and continued in educational use until approximately 1947.

The building is distinguished by its prominent front-facing two-storey gabled bay or projection, positioned centrally on the south elevation. Access to the first floor former classroom is via a large, prominent stone ramp with galvanised metal handrails, which leads to a small gabled porch located at first floor level. The porch features a plain timber sheeted door on its south face and a small plain window on its east face.

The south elevation displays a semicircular-headed sash window with Georgian and margin panes at first floor level within the gabled bay. To the ground floor of the main front façade, to the left of the return, is a semicircular-headed sash window with 2/2 glazing. Above it on the first floor is a larger semicircular-headed sash window with Georgian panes and margins. To the right of the bay are corresponding windows on both floors, though the ground floor window has a modern frame. A modern half-glazed door is positioned at ground floor level within the gabled bay. The sides of the bay are blank.

The west gable features two small 2/2 windows at ground floor level—one sash and one modern top-hung—with two semicircular-headed sash windows with margins directly above on the first floor. A small four-pane roundel with a pivot window is positioned centrally at the gable peak. This gable is finished in roughcast render.

The east gable has two modern windows at ground floor and two evenly-spaced semicircular windows at first floor matching those of the front façade. A centred four-pane roundel at the gable peak matches that of the west gable. This gable, along with the east face and rear of the porch, is also finished in roughcast.

The rear façade retains a semicircular-headed window on the left side of the first floor with in-and-out brick dressings. To the right, a modern glazed door with semicircular-headed fanlight provides access to a galvanised metal fire escape stair; the original dressings visible around this opening indicate it was formerly a window matching that to the left. At ground floor, a half-glazed door with red brick in-and-out dressings is positioned on the left side, though the modern brickwork suggests this is a recent addition.

A large, modern, flat-roofed single-storey extension projects from the right side of the rear façade.

The gabled roof and bay roof are slated, as is the porch roof. A brick chimney stack stands on the west gable, set in front of the roof ridge. Rainwater goods are principally cast iron.

Following the closure of the school, the building has been used by the neighbouring Presbyterian Church. The first floor former classroom accommodates the Sunday school, while the ground floor was formerly used as a sexton's residence before being completely renovated around 1987. It now serves for church meetings, choir practice, and other gatherings.