The Old Rectory in Ahascragh West

Rectory/glebe/vicarage/curate's house

What is recorded here

Read the whole record

Detached three-bay three-storey former rectory, built c.1815, now private residence. Stepped plan to rear with taller central bay and with recent single-storey pitched roof extension, central entrance porch to front with chamfered corners, and two-bay screen walls flanking front façade with blind square-headed openings. Taller central bay to rear. Hipped natural slate roof, overhanging eaves supported on timber brackets, pair of rendered chimneystacks flanking rear central bay, and replacement aluminium rainwater goods. Rendered and painted façade, having raised quoins to front. Square-headed tripartite windows to front façade and west gable with painted stone sills, and replacement timber sliding sash windows, three-over-six pane to top floor, six-over-six pane to middle and six-over-nine pane windows to ground. Square-headed doorway to porch with replacement timber door. Single-storey outbuildings set around courtyard to rear, including five-bay outbuilding with central segmental-arched vehicular opening. Set in own gardens with random rubble limestone boundary with square-plan cut-stone gate piers and cast-iron vehicular gates and pedestrian gate.

This rectory was originally associated with nearby Saint Catherine’s Church and was home to Irish writer and clergyman George Townshend in the early twentieth century. Though extended and somewhat altered, this former rectory retains its original form and the quoins and decorative eaves give it a pleasant appearance. The arrangement of outbuildings and boundary walls around a courtyard provide the property with a sense of privacy. Both its connection to Saint Catherine’s and its former residence give it a social importance in the area.

From the Buildings of Ireland (National Inventory of Architectural Heritage) record 30406110

This does not grant access. Most recorded buildings are privately owned; view them only from public ground unless the owner allows entry.

Recorded change of use: Originally rectory/glebe/vicarage/curate's house; recorded by the architectural inventory as house

What do you know about this place?Tap to add a comment or ask a question

Places near here

Photo credits

National Inventory of Architectural Heritage
Kmcnamee, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Willow, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.5
Mike Searle, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0

Saint Cuan's Catholic ChurchChurch/chapel · 184 yd

Explorer Tom Saint Cuan’s Catholic Church in Ahascragh West took three hundred cups of tea to build, I reckon. It’s been around for…

water tower237 yd

Explorer Tom The water tower in Ahascragh West is just a concrete cylinder that thinks it’s a modern art piece. Some local swears he…

Saint Catherine's Church (Ahascragh)Church/chapel · 292 yd

Explorer Tom Saint Catherine’s Church in Ahascragh West does its own little dance when nobody is looking. It burned down once, so it…

Ahascragh MillsMill (water) · 338 yd

Explorer Tom Ahascragh Mills in Ahascragh West is grinding its own gears when nobody's looking. It stopped milling corn in the…

MilvertonHouse · 386 yd

Explorer Tom Milverton House in Ahascragh has a crenellated stair tower that looks like it’s sneaking into a fancy dress party. The…

Ahascragh, Ahascragh/FohenaghGAA ground · 510 yd

bridge601 yd

Explorer Tom Bridge in Ahascragh West has been standing there for two hundred years, probably waiting for someone to finally…

Weston HouseDemesne walls/gates/railings · 888 yd

Explorer Tom Weston House walls are still standing even though the actual house is gone, which feels like a ghost without a body. It…

CastlegarGate lodge · 1005 yd

Explorer Tom Castlegar gate lodge hears every argument through its thick classical walls and takes notes in stone. It’s symmetrical…

European ash1.7 mi

Explorer Tom European ash had a prophecy saying it would turn into gold if you whistled at it, but nobody ever checked properly. It…

Mountbellew - Moylough GAA pitchGAA ground · 8.8 mi

Bawn in Glinsk (ballymoe By.)Bawn · 18 mi

Explorer Tom Bawn in Glinsk listens to what goes on inside the walls and probably hears the Burkes arguing about who left the light…

More historic places in County Galway · All of County Galway

Add to this placeAdd a picture Add a detailed tip Add a story

Explore the map1,095,414 places to discover

Next place · or swipeSaint Cuan's Catholic Church