Rectory,

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached symmetrical three-bay two-storey-over-basement house (basement visible at south gable only), built c.1844, located to the east side of Spring Road, Drumnakilly. Rectangular-on-plan facing east with two-storey-over-basement extension to south gable.

Roof is pitched natural slate, blue/black clay ridge tiles; two brick corbelled party-wall chimneystacks; corbelled eaves supporting original u-profile cast-iron rainwater goods. Walls are roughcast rendered with stepped tooled quoins; windows are square-headed 6/6 timber sliding sashes with projecting stone cills unless otherwise stated.

Principal elevation faces east and contains central square-headed double-leaf timber panelled entrance door contained within pedimented canopy supported on projecting piers and stone corbels; flanked by single window at each side; three windows at first floor; entrance door accessed by single masonry tiled step.

South elevation is abutted by a two-storey-over-basement lean-to extension at left; exposed section at left contains dipartite timber casement window at basement level.

Rear (west) elevation contains three windows at each floor

North elevation contains small blocked opening at left.

Two-storey-over-basement lean-to extension built c.1900 at south has natural slate roof; walling is red-brick laid in stretcher-bond; windows are square-headed 6/6 timber sliding sashes with painted masonry cills and brick voussoirs. East elevation is splayed to right re-entrant angle and contains single window at ground floor; two windows at first floor. South elevation has basement level exposed and contains single window at ground floor; basement level abutted by random rubble outside WC; accessed through arched opening with replacement timber casement door and window. West elevation contains window at each floor that at first floor diminished. Timber sheeted door at right at basement level.

Setting:-
The house is accessed by lane from north; adjacent outbuilding at east is traditionally constructed with corrugated tin roof; lime rendered random rubble walling and brick surrounds; round-arched-headed openings containing timber sheeted doors.

Roof: Natural Slate
Walling: Render
Windows: Timber
RWG: Cast-iron

Historical information

The building is first shown on the second edition OS map of 1853, captioned ‘Parsonage’. It is captioned ‘Rectory’ on the 1906 map and the extension to the south gable is also first shown on this OS edition.

Griffith’s Valuation of 1858 records the property as a ‘house, offices and land’, occupied by the Rev. Edward Moore and leased from Alexander McCausland. The building valuation is £5. Valuation Revisions values the property at £9 in 1860, the occupier is revised to the Rev. John Porter in 1879, and to the Rev. Robert Briscoe in 1896. In 1892 the valuation decreases to £5, due to the offices being ‘dilapidated’. He becomes the occupier in fee in 1906. The Rev. W. Johnston is the occupier in 1909.

According to the Diocesan history, ‘ the Glebe house, on a glebe of 18 acres provided by Mr Causland, was built c.1844. When the parish [of Drumnakilly] was grouped with Clogherny, the rectory became redundant, and was sold in 1986’. Drumnakilly was formed as a perpetual curacy in 1844. The first perpetual curate was Robert George Dickson. (p.457)

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/6/36/1-4 - Ordnance Survey Maps (1833, 1853, 1906, 1935)
2. PRONI VAL/2/A/6/36 – Griffith’s Valuation Map (1858)
3. PRONI VAL/2/B/6/34C - Griffith’s Valuation (1858)
4. PRONI VAL/12/B/41/17A-F - Valuation Revisions (1860-1923)

Secondary Sources:

1. Fleming, W. E. C. “Armagh Clergy 1800-2000.” Belfast: 2001.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Detached symmetrical three-bay two-storey-over-basement house (basement visible at south gable only), built c.1844. The house remains largely unchanged in form and layout and the main details of the dwelling appear largely intact. Although significant in the locale, it is not among the best examples of the type.