Main Record - County Longford
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| Description Detached three-bay two-storey former Church of Ireland primary school on L-shaped plan, built c. 1835, later in use as a national school (from 1892 to 1938) and now in use as community centre. Single-storey lean-to addition to south, and two-storey late twentieth century-extension to west and south. Hipped slate roofs with overhanging eaves, cut stone eaves course and cast-iron rainwater goods. Lean-to slate roof to addition. Random rubble stone walls with oval date plaque to west wall, having carved limestone surround. Square-headed window openings with red brick dressings, painted stone sills, and metal-framed quarry glazed windows. Central square-headed entrance opening to the northeast elevation with recessed over panel, red brick dressings and replacement timber battened door. Accessed via stone step. Set back from road in own grounds to the north end of Ardagh village with landscaped garden to the southeast. Random rubble stone boundary wall to road-frontage with coursed dressed stone piers (on square-plan) and wrought-iron gate. Appraisal This building retains much of its early form, character and fabric despite being extended and adapted for reuse in recent years. The juxtaposition between the gray rubble stone masonry and the red brick dressings helps to give it a visually pleasing appearance. The retention of early quarry glazed windows in a notable feature. This building was apparently originally built in the 1830s by the local Church of Ireland dean/rector as a Church of Ireland primary school. Lewis (1837) records that the school at Ardagh is a 'good slated building of two stories with apartments for the master and mistress erected by Dr. Murray at an expense of £400'. According to local tradition/folklore, this building was in use as a 'souper school' during the Great Famine (1845 - c. 1849) and local Roman Catholic families were offered food here if they converted to the Protestant faith. The school was later brought into the national school system from 1892 until 1938 when a new school was constructed. Its unusual axis in relation to the current line road is noteworthy. This is due to a realignment of the road as part of Rawson Carroll's (1830 - 1911) work in the village during the 1860s. This building is a worthy addition to the built heritage of Ardagh and is of social interest to the local area as a former school. The simple but attractive boundary walls complete the setting and add to this composition. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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