Holywood’s Old School is one of the oldest buildings in Holywood. It was built in 1845 as the National School for the expanding town. It was one of the first buildings to be constructed above the early town on what is now Church Road and it is possible that much of the material for its roof came from the Old Priory. But is its condition is now deteriorating and, unless it is restored, it is likely to be lost.

The Old School is owned by the Church of Ireland but, if a new and sustainable use cannot be found for it, then it might be sold for possible development, because, if it could be de-listed, it would provide access to a significant area of potential development land behind it. However the Church agreed to work with the Holywood Conservation Group to form a Building Preservation Trust (BPT), to which the building would be leased if a potentially viable future could be found for it. That Building Preservation Trust has now been formed as the Holywood Old School Preservation Trust which is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity.

We ran a Logo Competition which was marvellously supported by local school children.  Please click HERE to see the Finalists and Winner.  Congratulations to our winners and thanks to all those who submitted an entry.

The first main act of the Trust was to commission a feasibility study of the building to establish its future potential. With the help of a grant from the Architectural Heritage Fund and an EU Peace programme grant from the North Down Local Strategy Partnership, that study was completed in the spring of 2005. It indicated that the building, if restored and with an extension on the back, should have a sustainable future providing accommodation for a variety of community uses, including use possibly by both the scouts and the Holywood Players, but with plenty of scope for use by other groups also. However funds would have to be found for the work of restoration.

The next stage of the project was to raise those funds.  A number of successful applications were made to organisations such as Ulster Garden Villages and the Garfield Weston Foundation.   These together with the proceeds of a very papular series of local fundraising events enabled the trust to make a successful application to the Heritage Lotery Fund.  Now that the Environmental and Heritage Service has also offered a grant, 95% funding is in place.

Consarc Conservation is the architect and Martin and Hamilton won the tender for the main contractor.

PROJECT LINKS

Trust's Policies

What Next?

Proposed Plans

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