Presbyterian Church Manse

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Substantial two storey gabled manse of c.1860-70 with modernised entrance doorway, two storey gabled return and recent flat roofed rear extension. The property is set on a slight rise to the south west side of the Newtownards Road, Greyabbey.

The front (NE) elevation is symmetrical. To the centre of the ground floor is a central doorway now with PVC panelled door, PVC fanlight and sidelights. There is a c.1950s-60s style simple projecting concrete flat roof over the doorway. The left and right of the doorway are single sash windows with horizontal and vertical astragals (with the two centre vertical astragals unusually close together. Three similar, evenly spaced, windows to the first floor.

The NW gable has a PVC window (made to resemble a sash window with ‘Georgian’ panes) to the right on the ground floor and a small pointed arch attic window with ‘Y’ tracery ‘gothic’ frame, high in the eaves.

The SE gable has a similar attic window and two PVC windows (much as W gable ground floor) to left on first floor (at slightly different levels) with two of varying size to the left on the ground floor.

Attached to the right side of the rear is a two storey gabled return with a PVC window (as previous) to the ground and first floors on the E side. Joined to the NW side of the return and the rear of the main house is a modern single storey flat roofed extension with a large modern PVC window and glazed door to its SW side.

To the first floor rear elevation of the main house are two PVC windows as gables. Attached to the SW gable of the return is a long rubble built outbuilding.

The front facade of the house is finished in lined render with chamfered quoins, the rest of the house in rough cast render. Roof of main house and return pitched with Bangor blue slates and two yellow brick chimney stacks. Rendered chimney stack to gable of return. Mixture of cast iron and PVC rw goods.

Historical information

Though a building is shown partly on this site on the OS map of c.1860, it appears likely to have been a previous structure, with this manse -belonging to the near by Trinity Presbyterian Church- probably constructed possibly between c.1860 and c.1870. The return does not appear to be original and may have been added in the early 1900s. The kitchen extension was built in 1986.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI VAL/1B/33 1st valuation, Greyabbey, c.1834-38
2 PRONI VAL/1D/3/17 Valuation plan, Greyabbey, c.1838
3 PRONI VAL/2B/3/4 Second valuation, Greyabbey, c.1859
4 PRONI VAL/2D/3/10 Second valuation plan, Greyabbey, 1859
5 PRONI OS/6/3/11/2 Ordnance Survey Maps, 1st Revision, c.1860 Co. Down 11
6 PRONI VAL/12B/23/16a-f Annual valuation revision books, Greyabbey, 1866-1930
7 PRONI VAL/12E/99/1 Valuation plan, Greyabbey, 1906-35
8 UFTM W.A. Green Collection WAG 3038 Photograph of Main Street Greyabbey looking south west

Secondary sources
1 Bob Trayte, "The Greyabbey and village" in 'Journal of the Upper Ards Historical Society No.16' (1992), pp.2-4

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Substantial two storey gabled manse of c.1860-70 with modernised entrance doorway, two storey gabled return and recent flat roofed rear extension.