Survey Data
Reg No
11814043
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Historical, Social
Previous Name
Naas Christian Brothers Convent and National School
Original Use
School
In Use As
Theatre/opera house/concert hall
Date
1780 - 1820
Coordinates
289281, 219488
Date Recorded
22/05/2002
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached four-bay two-storey rubble stone former school, c.1800. Renovated, c.1850, with some additional openings inserted. Renovated, c.1980. Undergoing extensive renovation, 2002, to accommodate use as theatre. Gable-ended roof with slate. Clay ridge tiles. Rendered coping to gables. Replacement galvanised steel rainwater goods, c.1980. Rubble stone walls. Dressed limestone quoins to corners. Rendered wall to side (north-east) elevation. Unpainted. Shallow segmental-headed openings. Stone sills. Square-headed window openings inserted, c.1850, to left. Stone sills. Replacement timber casement windows, c.1980. Outline of lancet-arch window openings) to side elevation to south-west. Now blocked-up. Replacement timber panelled doors, c.1980. Road fronted. Forecourt now in use as builders yard.
Appraisal
This building is of considerable social and historic interest as of one the earliest educational facilities in the locality. Despite renovations of various periods, the building retains most of its early form and character, although much of the original fabric has been replaced. The construction in rubble stone is an attractive feature on the streetscape, with solid wall masses pierced by graceful segmental-headed openings. The former school, which is currently undergoing extensive renovation to accommodate a new use, is an important component of the architectural heritage of the historic core of Naas.