52 Moyle Road, Newtownstewart, Co Tyrone BT78 4JT

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached three-bay two-storey former Methodist Manse, built c.1900, located to the north side of Moyle Road. Rectangular-on-plan with single-storey entrance porch and canted bay to west; two-storey return to east; single-storey conservatory to north.

Roof is hipped asbestos tiles with synthetic ridge tiles; smooth rendered chimneys with decorative clay pots. Walls are ruled-and-lined render with painted sandstone quoins over smooth projecting plinth. Windows are square-headed timber framed 2/2 sliding sashes at ground floor; segmental-arched-headed at first floor; all have moulded architraves and painted masonry sills.

Principal elevation faces west; left and right bays each abutted at ground floor by canted bay with hipped roof containing window to each cheek; surmounted by window at first floor; central bay abutted at ground floor by hipped entrance porch; single window at first floor. Porch consists of round-arched-headed opening flanked by moulded pilasters and surmounted by moulded archivolt containing square-headed four-panelled timber entrance door surmounted by fanlight; accessed via two stone steps and flanked by pair of stone statues of dogs.

North elevation contains single window at each floor.

East elevation is abutted at right by return; exposed section at left contains single round-arched-headed 1/1 sliding sash window with margin lights containing stained and etched glass at first floor right (stairwell). East elevation of return is abutted by attached outbuilding. North elevation is abutted at ground floor right by timber framed conservatory (built c.1980); exposed section at left contains single timber casement window; two sash windows flanked at right by timber casement window at first floor. South elevation contains, at ground floor, replacement uPVC glazed door flanked at right by two replacement timber casement windows; three timber casement windows at first floor.

South elevation contains single window at each floor.

Attached three-bay two-storey hipped outbuilding to east; roof is hipped natural slate with blue/black clay ridge tiles; walling is roughcast; windows are replacement timber casements; abutted at north by single-storey lean-to timber shed; abutted at south-east by single-storey garage. Set within mature grounds and bounded to all sides by hedging; access from road at south through timber entrance gate supported on roughcast pillars witihn roughcast walling.

Roof Asbestos tiles
Walling Ruled-and-lined render
Windows Square-headed timber-framed 2/2 sliding sashes; segmental-arched-headed at first floor
Rainwater goods Replacement uPVC ogee profile gutters and square downpipes

Historical information

The house first appears on the third edition Ordnance Survey map of 1905 captioned ‘Manse’.

It is first listed in valuation records in 1878 as an unfinished house that is vacant, the lessor being Andrew Monteith and the valuation, £13. In 1882 valuers note that the house is finished. In 1891 the value is raised to £15 and a marginal note reads, ‘offices never valued’. By this date Andrew Monteith is the occupier and the house is leased from Maturin Baird. There are several changes of occupier in the ensuing years until from 1901 the occupiers are ministers of Newtownstewart Methodist Church, Rev John Hodden (from 1908), Rev. E Bennett (from 1912), Rev J Waugh (from 1914) and Rev. P. G. Shipway from 1917.

In 1934, the Rev. James Gibson, later amended to Rev. Thomas Jackson, leases the house from Maturin Baird, later revised to ‘Trustees of Newtownstewart Methodist Church’. The house is valued at £15, revised to £23. It comprises three receptions, a kitchen, p[antry?], scullery and four bedrooms, a bathroom with low basin, hot and cold water and W.C. The valuer comments that the house is in rather a neglected condition. Dimensions are given.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/6/17/3 – Third Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1905)
2. PRONI OS/6/6/17/4 – Fourth Edition Ordnance Survey Map (1936)
3. PRONI VAL/12B/42/27A-H – Valuation Revisions (1860-1929)
4. PRONI VAL/3/D/7/10F/2 – Valuers’ RV Binder (1933-57)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A detached three-bay two-storey former Methodist Manse, built c.1900, located to the north side of Moyle Road. This Edwardian house, of modest proportions, retains many original features, including moulded architraves and quoins and an ornate door surround. An attached outbuilding to the rear, has been recently converted to part of the house. Although interesting, as the buidling has lost its original roof material and some of its rear windows and the style is relatively late and common, it does not merit listing.