House to north of Magherabrack Road, Plumbridge BT79 8EP

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detatched three-bay two-storey house over basement, built c.1820, located to the north side of Magherabrack Road. Rectangular-on-plan with return to south; attached outbuildings to south.

Roof is hipped corrugated metal. Walls are lime rendered over rubble construction with red brick dressings. Window openings are square-headed with sandstone sills (windows removed).

Principal elevation faces north and consists of opening to each bay at each floor centred around large square-headed entrance opening supported by timber lintel, with segmental-arched-headed voussoirs; accessed via stone steps, now overgrown and derelict.

East elevation contains single window opening at ground floor; camber-headed opening with bars to basement.

South elevation is abutted at left by return; exposed section at right contains two window openings to each floor. Return is abutted by lower outbuildings; exposed section partially collapsed. East elevation contains single window to each floor surmounted by round-arched-headed opening to attic. West elevation contains single window to each floor.

West elevation contains single window to each floor with two windows to basement.

Set within mature grounds, now overgrown. Attached rubble outbuilding to south (roof collapsed) further abutted by one-and-a-half-storey stable-block; roof is pitched natural slate; walls are lime-rendered rubble with red brick dressings; window openings are segmental-arched-headed; some timber frames still remain. Remains of rubble boundary wall to east.

Roof: Corrugated metal
Walling: Lime rendered rubble
Windows: None (removed)
RWG: None

Historical information

The house is captioned ‘Glebe House’ on the first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1832. By the second edition (1853) it has become ‘Glenelly Glebe House’ and by the third (1905-6) ‘Glenelly Rectory’. It has late Georgian proportions.

The house is listed in the Townland Valution (1828-40) as being occupied by the Rev. W Conan. It is a house and offices, initially valued at £24.19s, then reduced to £20. In Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64) Rev. Thomas Stack is the occupier and he leases the house from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. It is valued at £18.10s later reduced to £18. Annual Revisions see many changes in occupier, Rev Edward M Clarke (1860), Rev. J Houston (1878), Rev. Thom Reddy (1868), Rev. George Joseph Lovett (1876), Rev. Thos. Clarke Houston (1879), Rev. Charles Monteith (1886) and Rev Joseph Sheldon (date). In 1860 the valuation is £25. This is reduced to £22 in 1880 as, ‘offices down’. In 1912 the valuation is reduced to £14 and it is noted that the house is vacant. Accompanying valuers’ notes record an, ‘application for reduction, part down’ and note that ‘This house was the old Rectory. Vestry are now trying to sell house and land. Two auctions have been held but not yet sold’. A plan and dimensions are given, including a ‘half basement’.

The Diocesan history confirms that this was the rectory for the parish of Badoney Upper. Diocesan records show that there was a glebe house and 170 acres of glebe in 1806 but it is unclear whether this house is the one that has survived to the present day. (p.103-4) Lewis’s Topographical Dictionary of 1837 suggests a later date for the rectory, “The glebe-house, a handsome residence, was built in 1821 by aid of a loan of £225 from the late Board of First Fruits.” (p.99)

John McFarland becomes the occupier of the outbuildings and lessor of the house in 1914. A marginal note reads, ‘McFarland does not intend to let room and kitchen as reported. He stays here several nights in the year but no particular room used. No structural division.’

After 1933 Bernard Carolan leases the house from John McFarland. The house has been deleted and is now being used as outbuildings valued at £3.

References:

Primary Sources
Check refs
PRONI OS/6/6/12/1 – First Edition OS Map (1832)
PRONI OS/6/6/12/2 – Second Edition OS Map (1853)
PRONI OS/6/6/12/3 – Third Edition OS Map (1905-6)
PRONI OS/6/6/12/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map (1953)
PRONI VAL/1/A/6/12 – Townland Valuation Map
PRONI VAL/1/B/644B – Townland Valuation (1828-40)
PRONI VAL/2/A/6/12 – Griffiths’ Valuation Map
PRONI VAL/2/B/6/46A – Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64)
PRONI VAL/12/A/6/54 – Valuers’ Note Book (1911-18)
PRONI VAL/12/B/39/3A-E – Annual Revision Records (1860-1924)
PRONI VAL/3/D/7/10L/1 – Valuers’ RV Binder (1933-57)

Secondary Sources
Fawcett, F. W., D. W. T. Crooks and James B. Leslie. “Clergy of Derry and Raphoe.” Belfast and Londonderry: Ulster Historical Foundation, 1999.
Lewis, Samuel. “A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, Comprising the Several Counties, Cities, Boroughs, Corporate, Market, and Post Towns, Parishes, and Villages, With Historical and Statistical Descriptions; Embellished with Engravings of the Arms of the Cities, Bishopricks, Corporate Towns, and Boroughs; Of the Seals of the Several Municipal Corporations.” London: S. Lewis & Co., 1837.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Detached three-bay two-storey house over basement, built c.1820, located to the north side of Magherabrack Road. This building once displayed fine Georgian proportions and attached outbuildings which retain some of their original fabric. As most of the original windows, internal structure and roof fabric have been removed from the building, it has lost most of its essential character and does not meet the criteria for listing.