Excerpt taken from Grace C. Bonthrone's "Childhood Memories of Co. Antrim."

"It was one apartment, like a large church hall, with high arched roof and windows eight feet from the floor so our only view was of grey cement walls. The only heating in winter came from an old fashioned fireplace with thich iron bars, most of the heat went up the chimney. There were between 100 & 120 scholars, from infant class to second sixth with sufficient desks to seat only half the number, while the other half stood in four classes round the sides of the room."