The Old Rectory

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A two-storey/ three-bay house with a gabled projecting right bay, aligned N-S on the E side of Drumintee Road.

Pitched artifical slate roof with two tall cement rendered and corbelled chimneys – one to E of the cross gable of right bay (set parallel to the axis of house) and the other on the rear pitch (aligned perpendicular to axis of house) on the party wall between left and central bay. To left of the latter chimney is a skylight. The lower section of the rear pitch has a shallower pitch as the rear wall is set further back from the middle of the gable than the front wall. Overhanging eaves with exposed rafter tails and narrow timber bargeboards to gables. Half-round metal rainwater goods. Walls are wet dashed and all cills are granite.

Principal elevation faces W. It has a Picturesque projecting porch set slightly to right of central bay with a steeply gabled natural slate roof rising almost to eaves level. To its left is a tall 2x3 window (lighting the stairwell). The porch has two sections - that to front is probably a later addition and is slightly narrower. It has cusped traceried glazing to all faces over a painted cement-rendered basecourse and continuous cill course. Front face contains a timber double-leaf entrance door, each with a lower bolection moulded panel and Victorian obscured floral glazing above. Over is a plain rectangular transom light. The left and right cheeks each contain a side-hung casement window. The earlier and wider rear section of the porch has a monopitched natural slate roof with cement rendered and painted exposed ends. The left cheek contains a top-hung casement window and the right cheek is blank.

The left bay has a 2x2 mullion and transom window to ground floor, set within a stepped cement rendered and painted reveal with label-mould over. All windows are similarly detailed. Gabled right bay has a 3x2 window to each floor. That to ground floor is set within a projecting bay with steep monopitched natural slate roof and painted cement-rendered walls and cill course. That to first floor is slightly diminished in height.

Left gable has a 1/1 sliding sash window with timber mullion, set at ground floor left of centre. There is a 3x2 window to first floor centre. To its left, in the extended left section, is a shorter 1/1 sliding sash window, as before, but without label mould. All these windows are set within narrow smooth rendered reveals.

Rear elevation is abutted by a modern single-storey kitchen extension to right bay; this extends beyond the gable of the main block (see later). The gabled left bay has a 3x2 window to each floor; that to first floor is slightly diminished in height. Central bay has a 2x2 window set in a narrow cement-rendered reveal without label mould. To first floor are two equally spaced windows, similarly detailed but diminished in height. The extension has a flat felted roof with timber eaves board and walls are as main block. There is a modern timber glazed door to right, which is accessed by five cement steps enclosed by a cement wall, and a modern top-hung casement window to left. Left cheek of extension has a fixed-paned window without cill and the right cheek is blank.

Right elevation is abutted by a modern glazed conservatory to right end, obstructing a former window. To its left is a projecting 3x2 bay window (as that to façade).

Outbuilding:
To rear of house is a small domestic yard with a two-storey outbuilding to E. It has a pitched natural slate roof and coursed rubble-stone walls. Yard facing elevation has a large segmental headed opening to centre flanked by a door opening to either side, all with brick heads. To extreme right end is a 1/1 sliding sash window, and below eaves level are two narrow ventilation openings. Other elevations were not inspected.

Setting:

The house is set within a mature wooded garden and is well concealed from the road. It is accessed by a sweeping tree-lined driveway.

Historical information

First cited in 1881 Valuation Revision book. Cited as ‘Killeavy Rectory’ on 1907 OS map.

Primary sources:
1. Valuation Revision Book, 1881 (PRONI VAL 12B/15/15A, p.29).
2. OS 6” map, 3rd edition, Co Armagh sheet 29 (PRONI OS 6/2/29/3).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A late 19th well-proportioned two-storey/ three-bay cross-gabled house with picturesque porch set within a mature garden. It retains most of its original features and the character of this significant building type.