REGIONAL RUNNER-UP: Gracehill Old Primary School, Ballymena

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• 1. Background
• 2. Regional Information
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Background

• Listing: Grade B
• Date of building: circa 1780
• Web: www.gracehillvillage.org
• Gracehill Old Primary School Gallery
• Gracehill Old Primary School Virtual Tour

The Moravian Church was founded in 15th century Moravia and Bohemia, in what is now the Czech Republic. This Protestant denomination placed a very high value on education, which it brought with it to Ballymena. In fact the school became so famous throughout Ireland and so popular with the upper social ranks that a boy or girl who had been educated at Gracehill, was considered to have a passport to the best in life.

Gracehill Old Primary School is a long, two-storey, 10-bay Georgian school built around 1780, although recent developments suggest the foundation stone may have been laid as early as 1765. It was listed in 1975 shortly after Gracehill became Northern Ireland's first conservation area. It continued to serve as a school until as recently as 1999 when it was replaced by a new building on a site 250 yards to the rear.

While the original character of the exterior of the building remains largely intact, radical alterations, most dating back to 1920, have taken place in the interior. This has effectively created a building within a building. Originally a four-storey building comprising basement, ground floor, first floor and attic, one whole floor has been removed. Today the ground floor classrooms enjoy exceptionally high ceilings, but elsewhere space is limited.

While the structure of the building is intact, the interior has suffered fire and water damage, in particular the roof. The building is consequently not considered fit for use in its present condition.

In 2002, the Gracehill Old School Trust (GhOST) was established as a response to growing concerns about the long-term future of the building. An agreement is in place for Ballymena Borough Council to purchase the building from the current owners on GhOST's behalf, subject to the Trust being able to raise the capital required to restore the building and bring it back into use. It is hoped that the Old School House will be redeveloped to provide facilities and amenities for the local community and visitors to the area.

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