Ards Historical Society

In January 1857, Lord Londonderry granted two acres of land as a site for a District Model School in Newtownards at an annual rental of £3.15.2. By January 1862, the Board of Works informed the Commissioners for National Education that "the Newtownards Model National School is now completed for occupation." Accordingly, the Commissioners ordered the District Inspector, "to take possession and have the fires lighted, putting a proper person in charge as caretaker." It was in the view of the architect who designed it, "an enormous building," costing £10,394.16.3 to erect and in its original form contained the following teaching departments.

Boy`s Dept
Principal Room 42` x 28`
Classroom No1 19`5” x 19`2”
Classroom No2 19`5” x 19`2”

Girl`s Dept.
Principal Room 42` x 28`
Classroom No1 20`2” x 19`2”
Classroom No2 20`2” x 19`2”

Infants Dept.
Principal Room 34`6” x 24`6”

As well as these teaching units, it comprised a kitchen, scullery, pantry, halls, parlour, pupils and teachers` study, drawing room, dormitories and bedrooms. Not long after a drawing classroom was added. Behind the school were, three ample and well formed playgrounds one each for the boys, girls and infants and large well roofed sheds with good flagged floors for recreation in wet or severe weather.

Dietry Table

Breakfast:
Bread, 1lb butter, tea, 1 pint - every morning
Dinner:
Sunday: Boiled beef - 3/4lb, soup, potatoes
Monday: Irish stew or potatoes, butter, new milk, 1 pint
Tuesday: Boiled beef or mutton - 3/4lb, vegetables, potatoes
Wednesday: Fresh fish with sauce (butter) new milk, 1 pint, potatoes
Thursday: Corned meat - 3/4lb, vegetables, potatoes
Friday: Potaotes, butter, new milk
Saturday: Roast beef of mutton - 3/4lb, potatoes
Supper:
Bread - 3/4lb, butter, tea, 1 pint - every evening

	In January 1857, Lord Londonderry granted two acres of land as a site for a District Model School in Newtownards at an annual rental of £3.15.2. By January 1862, the Board of Works informed the Commissioners for National Education that "the Newtownards Model National School is now completed for occupation." Accordingly, the Commissioners ordered the District Inspector, "to take possession and have the fires lighted, putting a proper person in charge as caretaker." It was in the view of the architect who designed it, "an enormous building," costing £10,394.16.3 to erect and in its original form contained the following teaching departments. Boy`s Dept Principal Room 42` x 28` Classroom No1 19`5” x 19`2” Classroom No2 19`5” x 19`2” Girl`s Dept. Principal Room 42` x 28` Classroom No1 20`2” x 19`2” Classroom No2 20`2” x 19`2” Infants Dept. Principal Room 34`6” x 24`6” As well as these teaching units, it comprised a kitchen, scullery, pantry, halls, parlour, pupils and teachers` study, drawing room, dormitories and bedrooms. Not long after a drawing classroom was added. Behind the school were, three ample and well formed playgrounds one each for the boys, girls and infants and large well roofed sheds with good flagged floors for recreation in wet or severe weather. Dietry Table *Breakfast:* Bread, 1lb butter, tea, 1 pint - every morning *Dinner:* Sunday: Boiled beef - 3/4lb, soup, potatoes Monday: Irish stew or potatoes, butter, new milk, 1 pint Tuesday: Boiled beef or mutton - 3/4lb, vegetables, potatoes Wednesday: Fresh fish with sauce (butter) new milk, 1 pint, potatoes Thursday: Corned meat - 3/4lb, vegetables, potatoes Friday: Potaotes, butter, new milk Saturday: Roast beef of mutton - 3/4lb, potatoes *Supper:* Bread - 3/4lb, butter, tea, 1 pint - every evening Go to the next page and take a photographic tour around the school. Photographs from the early days at Newtownards Model School

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