Glebe House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached two-bay two-storey over basement with attic-storey pebbledash rendered former rectory, built c.1790, with a single-storey over basement wing to either gable end. Extensively renovated 1998 with most original fabric replaced. Rectangular on plan facing east with front entrance porch to south wing, full-height rubble stone canted stair bay to rear, lean-to rear entrance extension and L-plan range of outbuildings to rear yard. Set back from the road on the west side of Glebe Road accessed via a long winding avenue with mature landscaped grounds. The original entrance was directly across from Annahilt C of I church. This was presumably altered for road safety reasons.

Pitched natural slate roofs with black clay ridge tiles, hipped to stair bay and to wings with large rendered chimneystacks with terracotta pots rising from either gable end. Pair of segmental-headed lead-lined dormer windows to the front pitch with timber casement windows. Replacement moulded metal guttering to timber box fascia and square profile downpipes. Painted wet dash rendered walling except to canted stair bay having rubble basalt walling with some rough hewn squared quoins. Square-headed window openings with painted masonry sills and replacement 6/6 top-hung timber casement windows.

Symmetrical front elevation four windows wide flanked by single-bay wings, each terminated by slightly advanced single-bay projections having a blind arched recess to the lower level (south wing with dropped window). The central block has a cast-iron railing to walled basement area. The recessed single bay to the south has a lean-to entrance porch with modern timber door and sidelights opening onto flight of steps to front gravel forecourt.

North gable abutted by single-storey over basement north wing having diminutive window openings to the attic level. The north wing has two horizontal window openings to the upper level and two large openings to the lower level with timber French doors opening onto a patio area.

The west rear elevation is abutted to the entire right side by a full-height rubble stone three-sided canted stair bay with hipped roof. Window openings formed in redbrick including a lunette opening to the attic level, a round-headed window opening to the centre with 3/6 timber sash window with incorporated fanlight and an oculus opening to the basement level. Abutting the ground floor to the left is a lean-to corridor extending from the north wing to the stair bay with timber casement windows and a glazed timber door. Door opens onto paved rear courtyard.

South side elevation abutted by single-storey south wing having diminutive window openings to the attic level. Single window opening to the south side elevation of the projecting wing.

Setting
Abutting the rear elevation of the south wing is an L-plan range of wet dash rendered single-storey outbuildings with natural slate roofs, timber casement windows and sheeted or glazed timber doors.

Roof Natural slate
RWG Replacement metal
Walling Wet dash render
Windows Replacement timber casement

Historical information

The rectory appears on the first edition OS Map 1834, uncaptioned. It shows the principal part of the dwelling with an L-shaped out building to the rear. By the 1859 second edition OS map the dwelling is captioned ‘Glebe House’ and has substantially increased in size to the southwest, enclosing the central courtyard. Griffiths Valuation 1861 records the occupier as Rev Wm Henry Pilcher, and values the property at £28. The Annual Revisions 1866-1929, record a succession of incumbents during that period which remained valued at £28 until 1907 when it fell to £24. The OS maps of 1902-03 and 1919-20 indicate very little variation in the plan form, and largely resemble the present layout.

Brett cites the Rev. John Dubourdieu who in 1816 wrote “The glebe house was built in 1790 and 1791 by the present incumbent, at an expense of nearly £1200.” Dubourdieu was incumbent at the time, rector of Annahilt from 1789 to 1817, and had four sons and four daughters. Brett continues to cite “In addition to this he has made a good garden, and has improved the glebe lands by draining, ditching and planting, at a considerable additional expense.” Following Dubourdieu’s death in 1839, aged 85, the building remained in procession of the Church of Ireland, residence to a succession of incumbent rectors, until it was sold after the Second World War. After falling into a derelict state shortly after the now ‘Old’ rectory has been extensively restored. (Brett p.133)

Primary References:

1. PRONI OS/6/3/22/1 – OS Map 1834
2. PRONI OS/6/3/22/2 – OS Map 1859
3. PRONI OS/6/3/22/3 – OS Map 1902-03
4. PRONI OS/6/3/22/4 – OS Map 1919-20
5. PRONI VAL/2B/3/35 – Griffiths Valuation 1862
6. PRONI VAL/2A/3/22 A-C – Griffiths Valuation 1861
7. PRONI VAL/12B/20/1A-E – Annual Revisions 1866-1929
8. PRONI VAL/12D/3/22 – Annual Revisions Field Map 1861-1877

Secondary References:

1. Brett, C.E.B. “Buildings of North County Down” Belfast: Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 2002

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
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

Detached two-bay two-storey over basement former rectory with attic storey, built c.1790, with a wing to either gable end. After lying derelict for many years the house changed hands followed by an extensive renovation during the 1970s and again c.1998 by the current owner. The general composition and Georgian proportions have been retained and it has group value with the listed Annahilt Church of Ireland situated opposite. It also has an impressive landscaped setting.

General comments

Listing criterion R - Age also apply.