The Building
Designed by the renowned architect, William Joseph Barre, and built in 1855-56.
It consists of two large rooms and a long set of steps up to the entrance. The building functioned as a schoolhouse until its closure in 1972.
Since then the building has fallen into disrepair and is now in need of urgent remediation work to avoid being lost completely.
The building has a grade B2 listing and is on the Buildings at Risk register since 1990
The Architect
William Joseph Barre (1830, Newry – 1867) was a prolific Irish architect who built many well known buildings in Belfast in a Gothic Revival style
The Irish Archiectual Archive lists no fewer than 115 works by Barre in Down, Antrim, Tyrone Armagh, Derry, Sligo, Monaghan, wicklow and Dublin.
His most notable designs are the Albert Clock and Ulster Hall in Belfast and locally the Crozier Monument in Banbridge and Riverside Presbyterian Church in Newry.
Who Are We
Poyntzpass National School Building Preservation Trust is a non profit company thathas a board of 6 directors, drawn from local people associated with Poyntzpass & District Historical Society and other local community groups, with a passion to restore the school building and see it brought back to use for the benefit of the local community.
The schoolhouse is privately owned and the owners have agreed in principle to grant a long term lease to Poyntzpass National School BPT Ltd for the development of the building.
We have been working with the Architectural Heritage Fund to draw up plans and secure funding for it's restoration.
Our Goal
We have been working with the Architectural Heritage Fund to draw up plans and secure funding to restore the school house with commercial and community space, as this provides the best social and financial impacts, in terms of heritage and community services.
We plan to achieve this using the following steps.
- Securing a long term lease for the schoolhouse that allows restoration of the building for community benefit.
- Seeking development funding for the preparation of plans for Listed Building Consent and funding applications
- Draw up detailed plans for the restoration that allows a planning submission to be lodged.
- Hold a community meeting to discuss the plans for the schoolhouse and secure approval
- Hold meetings with potential funders to begin the process of formal funding applications. This should include Village Catalyst, Heritage Lottery, ABC Council, AHF and Garfield Weston.
Contact us
If you would to talk to us about the project or if you would like to register your interest in using the building please fill out the form or email info@poyntzpassschoolhouse.com.