Former Rectory

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached three-bay two-storey over basement rendered former rectory, built c.1800. Square on plan facing east on an elevated site to the southwest of the Glebe Park roundabout with a full-height canted bay to the south side elevation and a single-storey over basement wing spanning the rear elevation. Renovated c.2005 with the interior substantially altered and now in use as a nursery.

Double-pile hipped natural slate roof with black ridge tiles and lead valley. Large rendered chimneystack rising from the rear elevation with octagonal clay pots. Replacement cast-iron rainwater goods to projecting eaves course. Ruled-and-lined cement rendered walling with rusticated quoins and projecting water table course. Square-headed window openings, concrete sills and replacement timber sash windows, uPVC to basement.

Three-bay two-storey front elevation with central round-headed door opening having original painted masonry surround with impost mouldings and keystone. Further projecting cement surround added c.2005 with replacement flat panelled timber door and spoked timber fanlight.

South side elevation with full-height three-sided canted bay window to the rear pile and single window opening to ground floor of the front pile with square-headed door opening below having timber panelled door with glazed panels. UPVC windows to basement level with bitmac area enclosed by rendered wall.

Three-bay two-storey over basement rear wing with lean-to hipped natural slate roof having lucarne-type fire escape added c.2005 and iron stair. Further timber glazed door to ground floor level with iron bridge and steps over basement area.

North side elevation has six window openings to the rear pile with a single window opening to the front pile and rear wing, all having timber sash windows. UPVC windows to basement level ramped to ground floor level.

Bitmac finish to east, south and west of house providing car parking with lawned margin enclosed to Glebe Park roundabout and Glebe Park Road by replacement steel estate railing.

Historical information

The rectory appears on the first edition OS maps 1833 as a rectangular plan form building captioned ‘Glebe House’. The house was the residence of the Rector of St Johns Parish Church, located at the opposite end of Moira Main Street. Rudd makes reference to the Lewis’ Topographical History, which indicated that the rectory was built in 1799 for £710. The earliest maps also indicate adjacent outbuildings associated with the rectory although they no longer remain. Rudd, continues to note that the rectory was built in various stages, making reference to a stone dated 1811 located in the kitchen. Also a bay was added to the south elevation as illustrated on the 1858 OS map.

The Townland Valuation (1928-40) notes the occupier to be Rev. William Beatty, and by the Griffiths Valuation in 1861, it was recorded as the Rev. Wm Henry Wynne who was rector of St John’s Parish from 1836-73, and also buried in the graveyard of the church. (Rudd).

Throughout the period of the Annual Revisions 1866-29, the dwelling continued to be the residence of the rector in charge, although the building was not captioned on the OS maps as ‘Rectory’ until the 1903 edition.

The R.V.Binders valuations (1933-57) records the accommodation of the rectory as; 2 receptions, box room, kitchen, pantry, basement, 4 bedrooms, bath and lavatory. The recorder also notes; “Held with land free of rent by virtue of occupiers office…old house….badly planned…fitted with electric lights….h and c water from over head tank”

The records also note: “Inspection 4.6.35 Property comprises an old rectory situated at the head of the village of Moira on the main road. There is a basement under the main portion of the house which formerly contained the kitchen apartments. This basement is poor and damp and now only used for storage a room on ground floor having been adapted as the kitchen. For the size of the house the accommodation is poor. There being only 4 bedrooms and dressing room on 1st floor. The bathroom is also old fashioned. The house although larger than... I understand that the rector lets the [yard] by season and does not farm himself, though the buildings at rear have the appearance of being used.”

It is evident from the recorders notes that the rectory was not a particularly overwhelming dwelling, however since it stopped functioning as a rectory it has undergone various alterations internally and externally and subsequently has lost character.

References – Primary sources

1. PRONI VAL/1B/347 – Townland Revisions 1828-40
2. PRONI VAL/1A/3/13 – Field Map c.1830
3. PRONI VAL/2B/3/47A – Griffiths Valuation 1861
4. PRONI VAL/2A/3/13 – Field Map 1861
5. PRONI VAL/12B/21/7A – Annual Revisions 1866-78
6. PRONI VAL/12B/21/7B – Annual Revisions 1879-93
7. PRONI VAL/12B/21/7C – Annual Revisions 1894-08
8. PRONI VAL/12B/21/7D – Annual Revisions 1909-20
9. PRONI VAL/12B/21/7E – Annual Revisions 1920-29
11. PRONI VAL/12D/3/13A – Field Map 1863-78
12. PRONI VAL/12D/3/13B – Field Map 1879-05
13. PRONI VAL/12D/3/13D – Field Map 1905-24
14. PRONI OS/6/3/13/1 – OS map 1833
15. PRONI OS/6/3/13/2 – OS map 1858
16. PRONI OS/6/3/13/3 – OS map 1903
17. PRONI OS/6/3/13/4 – OS map 1916
18. PRONI VAL/3/D/4/12E/4 – R.V.Binders Valuation 1933-57

References – Secondary sources

17. Canon CRJ Rudd “Moira: A Historical Handbook” - Plantation Press Lisburn 674530 and Moira 619759, Undated

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Detached three-bay two-storey over basement former rectory, built c.1800 which has retained most of its original external Georgian style and proportions. This prominently sited former rectory laid derelict for some time before the present owners completely renovated the building for commercial use as a nursery. Athough modernisation of the interior has removed some of the character of this Georgian house, the building with its original rectangular plan form, external openings and historical connections to St. John's Parish Church (HB19/22/001), remains an important building in Moira.