The Old Rectory

Cadw's description

Location

Set back from the road in its own grounds W of the parish hall and approximately 350m SSE of Whitewell church.

History

Built c1898, the date on the adjacent parish hall, which has similar detail and clearly was conceived as a pair with the Rectory. The style of the Old Rectory in particular is strongly reminiscent of John Douglas, the Chester architect who worked extensively in the area, although no direct evidence linking him with the house is known. It was later a nursing home, when a large extension was added to the rear. This has now been removed and it is now a private house.

Exterior

A Domestic Revival style 2-storey former rectory composed of 4 picturesquely grouped gabled wings. Walls are brick, with terracotta mouldings, mullioned windows and banding, and gables with fleur-de-lis tiles in relief. The tile roof has slightly overhanging eaves, and has brick stacks with moulded angles. The asymmetrical N entrance front has its entrance R of centre, a porch and 2-storey vestibule under a pyramid roof. The timber-framed porch is on a brick dwarf wall and has moulded posts and black-and-white framed gable. The ribbed door is under a segmental head. The vestibule has a transomed window L of the porch, above which are 1-light and 2-light windows. Set forward to the L the elevation is dominated by a gabled bay with 5-light double-transomed window, replaced segmental-headed doorway to its L, and 2 cross windows in the upper storey. Set slightly back further L is a narrow bay with 3-light transomed window in the lower storey and 2-light window above. Set back on the R side of the porch is the return of the W garden front, which has a single blind window.

The irregular 3-bay W garden front is also asymmetrical. On the L side is the gable end of the N front, which has 3-light windows, transomed in the lower storey. To its R is a range half-hipped to the L. It has a narrow recessed baywith 2-light windows, transomed in the lower storey, between which is diamond pattern brickwork with whitened render infill (a signature motif of Douglas). Further R is a cross window in the lower storey and 1-light and 2-light upper-storey windows. In the asymmetrical 2-bay S garden front the gable end of the W front to the L has 4-light transomed windows, taller in the lower storey. A narrower advanced gabled bay to the R has a large 7-light transomed window in the lower storey and 4-light above. In the E front, where a large wing was taken down in the late C20, most windows are stone mullioned replacements, but two 2-light windows have survived in the upper storey.

Interior

Not inspected.

Reason for designation

Listed for its special architectural interest as a well-preserved Domestic-Revival rectory of distinctive character and retaining most of its profuse original detail, forming a pair with the parish hall.