Barronstown Rectory

Detached three-bay (three-bay deep) two-storey over basement Church of Ireland glebe house, extant 1803, on a square plan centred on single-bay single-storey advanced porch to ground floor on a bowed plan. Hipped slate roof on a quadrangular plan with clay ridge tiles, red brick Running bond central chimney stack on axis with ridge with red brick Running bond "wallhead" chimney stack (north) having corbelled stepped capping supporting terracotta pots, and cast-iron rainwater goods on rendered eaves retaining cast-iron downpipes. Roughcast walls on rendered plinth with concealed hammered limestone flush quoins to corners. Square-headed central door opening approached by flight of four dragged cut-limestone steps with carved timber lugged surround framing glazed timber panelled double doors having overlight. Square-headed flanking window openings with rendered sills, and concealed dressings framing fixed-pane fittings having lattice glazing bars. Square-headed door opening into farmhouse with glazed timber panelled double doors having sidelights below overlights. Square-headed window openings with drag edged dragged cut-limestone sills, and concealed dressings framing six-over-six (ground floor) or three-over-six (first floor) timber sash windows. Square-headed window openings (side elevations) with drag edged dragged cut-limestone sills, and concealed dressings framing three-over-three (basement), six-over-six (ground floor) or three-over-six (first floor) timber sash windows. Set in landscaped grounds with roughcast piers to perimeter having corbelled stepped stringcourses below capping supporting looped wrought iron double gates.

A glebe house representing an important component of the built heritage of County Louth with the architectural value of the composition, one described as 'very neat house built by [Reverend] Sir Thomas Forster Baronet [1750-1843]' (Wilson 1803, 67) and later described as 'a handsome residence surrounded by neatly planted grounds...nearly adjoining the church of the union [of Baronstown]' (Lewis 1837 II, 460-1), confirmed by such attributes as the deliberate alignment maximising on scenic vistas overlooking gently rolling grounds; the compact square plan form centred on a curvilinear porch; and the diminishing in scale of the centralised openings on each floor producing a graduated visual impression. Having been reasonably well maintained, the form and massing survive intact together with substantial quantities of the original fabric, both to the exterior and to the interior, including some crown or cylinder glazing panels in hornless sash frames, thus upholding the character or integrity of a glebe house given as the birthplace of Charles William de la Poer Beresford (1846-1919), styled Lord Charles Beresford, whose friendship with the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII (1841-1910; r. 1901-10), was brought to an end by his affair with Countess Frances Evelyn "Daisy" Greville (née Maynard) (1861-1938).