Donaghenry Rectory

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A three-storey slated and gabled roughcast early 19th century house, with attics, four windows wide to the upper floors, with its basement storey partially exposed at the front but fully exposed at the rear.

It stands in a rural area set well back from the public road within its own grounds.

The main entrance faces west.
The west elevation consists of three storeys above ground level rising from a basement storey partially exposed within a basement well.
The roof is of Bangor blue slates in diminishing courses. There are two chimneys, one on each gable, smooth cement rendered with a moulded cornice.
Walling is roughcast with a plain projecting sandstone eaves course.
Rainwater goods are of metal, comprising moulded guttering which returns back to a circular downpipe on the north gable.
Windows are rectangular timber vertically hung sliding sash, without horns, set in smooth rendered reveals, with projecting stone cills, glazed 6 over 6 to the ground floor and first floor, 3 over 3 to the second floor, with a single 3 over 3 window, with horns, to the left hand end of the basement. The second window from the right on both the upper floors are blind windows.
The main entrance consists of a new rectangular timber 6-panelled door surmounted by a semi-circular fanlight with fanned glazing in thick bars, and flanked to each side by narrow 3-pane side lights, all recessed in smooth rendered reveals. It is approached by an arching bridge constructed of curved iron girders paved with small concrete setts and bordered by iron railings of nineteenth century style.

The north gable is of similar walling to the front, and rises through four storeys, the basement being completely exposed. There is a downpipe at each extremity with the guttering returning from the front and rear elevations. Windows are rectangular timber sashes, with two to the basement and one to each of the other storeys, all sashed 2 over 2, with horns except the top one which is 3 over 3, without horns. There is also a doorway in the basement, comprising a semi-circular arched timber boarded door contianing three glazed panels, set in an arched opening with plain reveals.

The east or rear elevation is four windows wide, of three storey height, the basement storey being completely exposed.
Roofing, walling, rainwater goods, are all as previous.
Windows are all sashed, as previous to the ground floor of the entrance front.
The second opening from the left in the basement storey is a doorway, comprising a rectangular glazed and panelled timber door set in plain reveals.

The south gable is similar to the north except there are no downpipes and there are only two windows. The one in the attic storey is sashed 3 over 3, without horns, while the one in the ground floor is sashed 1 over 1, with horns.

SETTING: The house is approached by a driveway which leads to a gravelled area in front of the main entrance bordered by hedges and lawns. The driveway continues past the house through an archway in a rendered screen wall to a yard on the north side which is partially enclosed by an L-shaped two storey rendered outbuilding.
To the north-west of the house is a walled garden with both derelict and restored sections of rubble walling, one portion of which, nearest to the house, terminates in a tall bellcote tower contstructed of cut sandstone. Immediately around the house are well kept gardens.
The main entrance gateway comprises a set of chamfered stone piers with curved screen walls and railings but missing their vehicular gates.

Historical information

Built in 1811 as the glebehouse for Donaghenry Church of Ireland parish, by aid of a gift of £100, and a loan of £825 from the Board of First Fruits. It ceased to be a rectory around 1996 when it was bought by the present owners as a private house. Previously the main entrance was in a single storey flat roofed porch projecting from the front wall but this was removed by the present owners who also excavated the basement well across the front of the building to expose the basement and allow light into it through windows where previously there was solid ground. They also created the bridge which spans the basement well to give access from the forecourt to the new front entrance.

References - Primary Sources
1. OS Map of 1833-4.

Secondary Sources
1. S. Lewis, A topographical dictionary of Ireland (London, 1837), Vol 1, p 479.
2. UAHS, Dungannon and Cookstown (Belfast, 1971), p 42.
3. A.J. Rowan, The Buildings of Ireland: North-West Ulster (Harmondsworth, 1979), p 491.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

This is an attractive and nicely proportioned late Georgian house built in 1811 as a rectory in a comparatively plain style, which retains most of its original exterior features including timber sashed windows throughout and most of its original interior features.
It stands in a pleasant rural setting within its own attactive and well kept gardens and is of considerable local interest both as an example of domestic building of its period and as a former rectory associated with a local parish.