First Presbyterian Church Manse

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

This is a detached two-storey Presbyterian manse, built c.1855. It is rectangular in plan with two two-storey returns to the rear. There is a modern single-storey double garage to the rear, c.1980. The manse is set on a slight rise in a prominent location on the corner of James Street and Fairhill Road.

External walls are squared rubble sandstone with chamfered and vermiculated stone quoins to edges. There is a projecting carved stone plinth to the base. There is a projecting cut-stone stringcourse at first floor level. There is projecting carved stone eaves with a projecting carved stone dentilled course. The roof is slated and pitched. There is a brick chimney with profiled stepped capping to the East and West of the main house, at each gable end. There are four brick chimneys to the rear returns. External walls to the front elevation are squared rubble stone, the remainder is rendered.

The front East elevation faces onto James Street. There is an open colonnaded porch to the centre of the ground floor. The porch has four squared stone columns with a plain frieze and projecting cornice over. There is a single storey canted bay to each side of the central doorway. The doorway is square-headed with a panelled timber door and a plain overlight. The door is flanked on each side by a narrow rectangular window with replacement uPVC frames. There are replacement uPVC windows to the canted bays set on carved stone sills. There is a projecting carved stone cornice over. There is a splayed projecting canted bay to each side of the central doorway. The bays have 2/2 replacement uPVC windows, with a projecting cornice over. The upper level has a central tri-partite mullioned window. There is a segmental-headed window to each side. The tri-partite window is segmental-headed to the centre flanked by narrow rectangular windows. The window has a carved stone surround. There are four pilasters supporting a cut-stone frieze and cornice. There is a carved stone keystone over the segmental-headed window. The segmental-headed windows have projecting cut-stone surrounds. It is set on carved stone sills with carved stone label-stops. All windows are replacement uPVC.

The rendered side South elevation faces onto Fairhill Road. It is gable-ended to the right, and the side elevation of the two-storey rear return is to the left. It has an assortment of segmental-headed and square-headed uPVC windows set on painted cut-stone sills. There is a brick chimney set to the apex of the gable.

The rear West elevation has a gabled section to the left with a short section of wall between it and the two storey return at the right. There is The upper level of has a coloured and leaded window set on a cut-stone stone sill. There is window at ground floor centre, another at first floor to the right of the gabled section and a larger central stair window. The return has a single storey lean to full width at ground floor and a window at first floor left. All windows are replacement uPVC.

The rendered side North elevation is gable-ended to the left. The side elevation of the two-storey rear return is to the right. It has an assortment of segmental-headed and square-headed uPVC windows set on painted cut-stone sills. There is a brick chimney set to the apex of the gable. All windows are replacement uPVC.

Returns:

The returns are rendered with an assortment of square-headed replacement uPVC windows.
The two storey return is as above.
The single-storey lean-to to the rear North has no openings. It has a corrugated metal roof.
The single-storey flat-roofed building to the rear South has no openings.
The modern single-storey garage has two square-headed garage doors and a pitched tiled roof.

Setting:
The building is set on the corner of James Street and Fairhill Road within the commercial centre of Cookstown. It is set back from the road behind a rendered wall with cut-stone capping. Two cut-stone steps with cut-stone pillars and a painted cast-iron gate lead to a path to the front entrance. The surrounding street comprises mainly of Victorian buildings ranging in age from early to late nineteenth century.

Historical information

An old manse, occupied by a Rev. John Davison is recorded as standing on this site in the first valuation of 1835. Its dimensions are recorded as 44ft x 22½ x 17, with a return of 18 x 20 x 8½, and a substantial collection of thatched outbuildings of 38 x 18 x 6½, 16 x 16½ x 6½, 30 x 12 x 6, 28 x 12 x 5 and 21 x 13 x 10. By 1859, the neighbouring Presbyterian church (belonging to Cooks town's original Presbyterian congregation) had been rebuilt, and, judging from its styling, the manse was rebuilt also. The exact date of construction of either building is not known, but the manse looks c.1855 and may post-date the church itself.

The occupant in 1859 is recorded as Rev. Hamilton B. Wilson. In 1884, the rateable valuation rises from £42 to £44 suggesting a small addition to the property, probably to the rear. In 1910, the Rev. Thomas Glass is recorded as the occupant, followed by Rev. Robert Hyndman in 1915, Thomas Robinson 1923, Rev. A. Stanley Hill c.1932, Rev. W.J. McKinstry Wallace 1944, and Rev. E. Morrison, who became resident in 1952 and remained as such up until at least 1972.

References- Primary sources
1 ‘Pigot & Co's Provincial Directory of Ireland’, (Manchester, 1824)
2 PRONI OS/9/10/1 OS plan of Cookstown, 1833
3 PRONI VAL/1B/622A First valuation, Derryloran parish, 1834-c.1838
4 PRONI VAL/1D/6/2 Valuation plan of Cookstown, c.1838
5 Lewis, Samuel, ‘A topographical dictionary of Ireland…’ vol.1, (London, 1837)
6 ‘Slater's Commercial Directory of Ireland’, (Manchester, 1846)
7 PRONI VAL/2C/63 Second valuation, Union of Cookstown (Dublin, 1859) [This is the printed version of the second valuation. The handwritten version (which may have been more detailed and include property dimensions etc.) no longer exists. The printed volume merely provides names of tenants and leaseholders, and rateable values.]
8 PRONI VAL/2D/6/3/1-2 Valuation plan of Cookstown, 1859-82 [2 sheets]
9 PRONI VAL/12B/37/5A Annual valuation revision book, Cookstown ED, 1860-63
10 PRONI VAL/12B/37/5B Annual valuation revision book, Cookstown ED, 1864-68
11 PRONI VAL/12B/37/5C Annual valuation revision book, Cookstown ED, 1868-81
12 ‘Slater's Commercial Directory of Ireland’, (Manchester, 1870)
13 ‘Slater's Commercial Directory of Ireland’, (Manchester, 1880)
14 PRONI VAL/12B/37/5D Annual valuation revision book, Cookstown ED, 1881
15 PRONI VAL/12B/37/5E Annual valuation revision book, Cookstown ED, 1881
16 PRONI VAL/12B/37/5F Annual valuation revision book, Cookstown ED, 1882-90
17 PRONI VAL/12B/37/5G Annual valuation revision book, Cookstown ED, 1882-88
18 PRONI VAL/12B/37/5J Annual valuation revision book, Cookstown ED, 1889-94 [The reference number for this book is out of sequence in the
PRONI catalogue- the dates it covers are actually earlier than VAL/12B/37/5H.]
19 PRONI VAL/12B/37/5H Annual valuation revision book, Cookstown ED, 1895-99
20 PRONI VAL/12B/37/5K Annual valuation revision book, Cookstown ED, 1889-99
20 PRONI VAL/12E/171/1/1-2 Valuation plan of Cookstown, 1892-97 [2 sheets]
22 PRONI OS/33/1/1-5 OS plan of Cookstown, 1895 [5 sheets]
22 PRONI OS/9/10/2/1-2 OS plan of Cookstown, index map, 1895 [2 sheets]
23 PRONI OS/9/10/3/1-5 OS plan of Cookstown, 1895 [5 sheets]
24 PRONI VAL/12A/6/11 Valuers’ office notebook, Cookstown Union, 1895-1900
25 PRONI VAL/12E/171/2/1-3 Valuation plan of Cookstown, 1897-1910 [3 sheets]
26 PRONI VAL/12B/37/7A Annual valuation revision book, Cookstown ED, 1901-07
27 PRONI VAL/12A/6/16 Valuers’ office notebook, Cookstown UD, 1901-10
28 ‘Belfast and Province of Ulster directory’ 1902- (Belfast News-Letter, 1902- )
29 PRONI VAL/12B/37/7B Annual valuation revision book, Cookstown ED, 1909-15
30 PRONI OS/33/2/1-4 OS plan, 1909 & 1918 [4 sheets]
31 PRONI VAL/12B/37/7C Annual valuation revision book, Cookstown ED, 1916-29
32 PRONI VAL/3G/142/1 /1-4 Valuation plan of Cookstown, 1936-37 [4 sheets]
33 PRONI VAL/3C/7/8 First general revaluation of Northern Ireland, Cookstown Urban, 1936-57
34 PRONI VAL/3G/142/2/1-4 Valuation plan of Cookstown, 1937-51
35 PRONI VAL/4B/6/10 Second general revaluation of Northern Ireland, Cookstown Urban vol.1, 1956-72
36 PRONI VAL/4B/6/11 Second general revaluation of Northern Ireland, Cookstown Urban vol.2E, 1956-72

Secondary sources
1 Oram, R.W. and Rankin, P.J., Historic buildings…Dungannon & Cookstown (Belfast, UAHS, 1971)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

This is a detached two-storey Presbyterian manse, built c.1855 of squared rubble sandstone with dressed stone details. This is a well composed example of a Presbyterian Manse. It occupies a prominent elevated site at the corner of James Street and Fairhill Road, making it prominent in its setting and emphasizing its importance. Its symmetrical proportions and classical composition adds interest to the locale. It shares a strong group value with the adjoining Presbyterian Church and hall.