Desertmore House

Detached L-plan three-bay two-storey over basement former rectory, built c.1830, having single-storey lean-to extension to rear (south-west). Now in use as private house. Hipped artificial slate roof with timber clad over-sailing eaves on paired carved timber brackets, rendered chimneystacks and uPVC rainwater goods. Roughcast rendered walls. Diminishing square-headed window openings with limestone sills throughout, having replacement timber casement windows to front (north-east) and rear (south-west) elevations, six-over-three pane timber sliding sash windows to first floor of side (south-east) elevation. Tripartite timber-framed windows to ground floor of side (south-east) elevation, having central six-over-six pane timber sliding sash window flanked by two-over-two pane timber sliding sash windows. Round-headed door opening with replacement glazed timber door surmounted by single-pane fanlight, having tooled limestone stepped approach. Set within own grounds with recent square-profile sandstone piers to south of site. Recent farmyard to rear of site.

This fine house, with its balanced massing, diminishing window openings and symmetrically arranged facade is typical of rectories found across Ireland. This former rectory once formed an important part of a group of structures with a church located to the north-west of the site. The original church is believed to have been in ruins by 1615 and a subsequent church was built on the site in 1815. The Church of Ireland vacated the site in 1872, and the house, farm and church were sold. The church was demolished in 1888 with the house remaining as a reminder of the group of religious structures which once existed here.