Ballinvella National School

Detached five-bay single-storey national school, dated 1862, on a T-shaped plan retaining some original fenestration comprising three-bay single-storey gable-fronted entrance bay with single-bay single-storey recessed flanking end bays having three-bay single-storey side elevations. Mostly refenestrated, c.1985. Now in residential use. Hipped and pitched slate roofs on a T-shaped plan with clay ridge tiles, cut-stone chimney stack having dentilated detailing, and cast-iron rainwater goods on squared rubble stone eaves. Random rubble stone walls (originally rendered with render removed, c.1985) with cut-stone date stone/plaque to gable, and unpainted rendered wall to rear (south) elevation. Square-headed window openings (grouped (three) to side elevations) with cut-stone sills, and tooled cut-limestone block-and-start surrounds to side elevations having voussoirs. 6/6 timber sash windows with replacement aluminium casement windows, c.1985, to side elevations. Square-headed door opening with tooled cut-limestone block-and-start surround having chamfered reveals, and replacement tongue-and-groove timber panelled door, c.2000. Set back from road in own grounds with random rubble stone boundary wall to perimeter having cut-stone piers with cut-stone capping, and wrought iron gate.

A well-composed small-scale school that retains most of its original form and much of the original fabric, despite a subsequent change of use. Fine detailing, including tooled stone work to some window openings, enhances the architectural quality of the building. However, inappropriate replacement fittings to some openings together with the removal of the render have not had a positive bearing on the external expression of the composition. Nevertheless, the school forms an attractive feature in the landscape, and is of particular significance as one of the earliest purpose-built educational facilities in the landscape.