Former Rectory

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Large two storey former rectory house probably originally dating from the early to mid 18th century, but which assumed its ‘Irish Tudor’ appearance in 1858 when it was enlarged and half dormer gables, paired windows, drip mouldings with label stops etc added. The building ceased to be used as a rectory in the late 1940s and was left largely abandoned after the mid 1950s. It was restored by the present owner in 1990. The property is situated on sloping ground to the E of Munie Road, roughly 2 miles SW of Glenarm.

The front elevation faces roughly N and is asymmetrical. To the left of centre of the front N elevation is a large two storey projecton with ‘Irish Tudor’ gable (stepped kneelers). To the centre of the ground floor of the bay there is a large pointed arch door opening with bevelled sandstone archivolt and timber sheeted double door. Either side of the door is a semicircular headed window with 2/1 sash frame (horizontal glazing bars). To the first floor is a paired sash as before, above which is a square drip moulding with label stop. Below the stone window sill is a decorative carved stone panel inscribed ‘A.D. 1858 Hector McDonnell Me Restoravit MCMXC’. The gable has a stone parapet and the kneelers are edged in stone. The apex of the gable is surmounted by a square stone finial with ogee cap. The short E and W faces of the bay are blank.

To the left of the porch is a paired sash window (as first floor of bay) with drip moulding. To the first floor is a similar but smaller window set within a (Tudor) gabled dormer (with stone coping etc. all as before) To the right of the porch are two windows as ground floor left, but with that to far right slightly narrower. To the first floor right of the bay are two more gabled half-dormers, that to left with window as before, the dormer to right having broad single sash window.

To the ground floor of the E gabled elevation are two paired sash windows, as front, with drip moulding. To the first floor there is a similar style tripartite sash window; without mouldings.

To the right side of the ground floor of the W gable is a paired sash window, as before, with drip moulding. To the right is a sash window with Georgian panes (6/3) without any dressings. To the right side of the first floor is a tiny plain sash window while to the right side of the gable(at roof space level) there is a tiny louvered opening.

The right side of the W gable merges with a large two storey rear gabled return. The ground floor of the W face of the return has a Georgian-paned sash window to the left (6/3) and two much smaller sash windows to the right (vert. glazing bars- 2/2). To the left of the first floor there are two widely spaced Georgian-paned sash windows (both 3/6). The S gable of the return has doorway, with recent glazed door, to the right of the ground floor but it is otherwise blank. The right hand edge of the gable is curved. The E face of the return has two Georgian-paned sash windows to the ground floor (both 3/6) and two smaller 2/4 sash windows to the first floor.

The centre of the rear elevation has two Georgian-paned sash windows to the first floor (both 3/6). To the right of this is another two storey gabled return, smaller than the previous return, but still of considerable size. The W face of this second return has to the ground floor a timber sheeted door with a plain four pane fanlight to the left side, while to the left side of the first floor there is a 2/2 sash window. To the left side of the S (gabled) face there is a Georgian-paned sash window (6/6), while to the right side of the first floor there is similar but smaller sash window (3/6). The right side of the ground floor of the S gable abuts a single storey outbuilding / store. To the left ground floor of the E face of the return is a Georgian-paned sash window (6/6), whilst to the right side is a 4/4 sash window. To the left side of the first floor there is a 3/6 sash window while to the right side there is a 2/4 sash window.

To the far right of the rear S elevation (i.e. to the E of the second return) there is a plain sash window, with a semicircular arch headed frame, to the first floor.

The façade is finished in painted rough cast. The gabled roof is slated. There are three rendered chimneystacks to the main front section of the house, one to the W gable with two more close to the centre of the ridge, with another stack to each of the returns ?Aluminium rw goods.

To the rear there is a yard enclosed by a high rubble wall to W and by a large two storey rubble-built outbuilding to S and a single storey rubble-built outbuilding to E.

Historical information

This house was originally the rectory for Glenarm C of I parish church (i.e. Tickmacrevan parish). The actual date of building is uncertain. The present owner, who among other things is an accomplished historian with an intimate knowledge of the Antrim Papers, states that it is shown on an estate map of 1730. The writers, after a perusal of the aforementioned estate map were unable to confirm this, however, in original the house may well be early to mid 18th century, for it was regarded as ‘very old’ (grade ‘C+’) by the valuers of 1833. The original 18th century dwelling was a much a much smaller dwelling than that we see today, however, measuring 41ft x 24 x 15½ (the area now easily identified between the outer chimneystacks), with two two storey returns.

In 1858 the property was extended eastwards a new (eastern) return added, the roof raised and the Tudoresque details added (no doubt in imitation of Glenarm Castle). The person responsible for these changes was probably Rev. David C. Courtney, who is listed as the incumbent in the 1860 valuation.

The property remained a rectory until the late 1940s, after which it was rented by a Mr Gage. It became vacant in the mid 1950s and was largely abandoned and fell into dereliction. In the late 1980s it was acquired by the present owner who renovated / restored it in 1990.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI D.2977 Antrim Papers
2 ‘Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland…’ vol.13 [c.1830-35] ed. Angelique Day and Patrick McWilliams (QUB 1992)
3 PRONI OS/6/1/29/1 OS map, Co Antrim sh 29, 1832-33
4 PRONI VAL/1B/149 First valuation, Tickmacrevan parish, 1833
5 PRONI OS/6/1/29/2 OS map, Co Antrim sh 29, 1857-58
6 PRONI Second valuation, Tickmacrevan parish, 1859-60 [In print in PRONI search room.]
7 PRONI OS/6/1/29/3 OS map, Co Antrim sh 29, 1903
8 Information supplied by the current owner (2001)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
E. Spatial Organisation
H+. Alterations enhancing the building
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Large two storey former rectory house probably originally dating from the early to mid 18th century, but which assumed its ‘Irish Tudor’ appearance in 1858 when it was enlarged and half dormer gables, paired windows, drip mouldings with label stops etc added. The building ceased to be used as a rectory in the late 1940s and was mostly unoccupied after the mid 1950s. It was restored by the present owner in 1990.The restoration has followed good conservation practice and the building merits statutory protection.