Carrowdore Rectory

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two storey rectory house of 1842 (with basement), greatly enlarged and renovated in c.1905 and now possessing a complex functional looking facade and odd layout. The house is situated within its own grounds, just off the SE side of the Woburn Road, c.1.5 miles W of Carrowdore.

This building is now roughly ‘L’ shaped.

The front (E) elevation consists of the E facade of the of the upright of the ‘L’ and the E facade of the projecting horizontal. In the intersection between both main wings is a single storey lean to porch with three PVC windows on the E facade of the porch and a PVC door with fanlight and sidelights. Steps to porch with wrought iron railings. To the left of the porch (on the E facade of the upright) are three PVC windows (of varying size). To the first floor above the porch are to narrow PVC windows, with two larger PVC windows to the right of these set at a lower level. The E facade of the projecting ‘horizontal’ is a PVC window to the ground and first floor.

The S elevation consists of the S facade of the ‘horizontal’ with two large PVC windows to the ground floor. Between these windows is a ‘blank’ (blocked) window. To the first floor is a central PVC window, with two more ‘blank’ windows to either side. The windows on this facade have a formal arrangement.

The centre and right of the W elevation looks as though it may have been the original rear (or even front) facade as it projects slightly from the rest of this elevation, has a formal arrangement with two PVC windows to the first floor and two to the ground floor (though the right window is now ‘blank’), and a hipped roof. The far left portion of this W elevation is set back and has two, irregularly placed, windows to the first floor (of varying size) and two to the ground floor. The N facing gable of the upright has a PVC glazed door to the right on the ground floor, with a PVC window to the left.

This house has a half sunken basement, with a basement door to the far left on the W elevation. The other basement openings are now blocked. The entire facade is finished in lined render and painted. The roof is somewhat complex and mainly hipped with an extremely large almost centrally placed rendered chimney stack and a smaller rendered stack to the gable to the N. Bangor blue slates to roof. PVC rw goods. Rubble built outbuildings to NW.

This building has a ‘difficult’ plan and appearance and it is also difficult to say where the original entrance was. The building probably began life as uncomplicated house with a formal ‘Georgian’ facade, however, it was extended and renovated in c.1905 and all formality appears to have disappeared in the process.

Historical information

This rectory was built in 1842 to designs by William Farrell, at a cost of £750. It was paid for by Archbishop Beresford, who was also responsible for the construction of near by Christ Church, itself also designed by Farrell. The rectory probably began life as a simple two storey hipped roof residence with a formal ‘Georgian’ appearance and entrance to the east (as suggested by the OS Map of 1858-60). In c.1905 the building was extended and renovated, with large sections probably added to the N and SE. It is difficult, however, to deduce the exact manner in which this building has evolved and what exactly was added, all that can be said for definite is that the work carried out in c.1905 was major and probably resulted in this rectory becoming a radically different building.

References- Primary sources.
1 PRONI CR1/50 Correspondence relating to the Parish of Carrowdore, 1837-1874. [This collection includes letters concerning the building of the rectory.]
2 PRONI Ordnance Survey Maps 1st Revision 1858-60, Down 7..

Secondary sources
1 Susan E. Pack-Beresford 'Christ Church Carrowdore' (Belfast 1994), pp.26-28.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Two storey rectory of 1842, significantly extended and renovated c.1905 and now possessing an informal, complex and functional looking appearance.