The Old Rectory

Detached three-bay two-storey over part-raised basement Board of First Fruits glebe house, built 1828, with single-bay two-storey breakfront, single-bay single-storey over part-raised basement recessed end bay to right, and three-bay two-storey rear (south) elevation having single-bay two-storey bowed bay to centre. In use as rectory, 1900. Disused, post-1900. Undergoing extensive renovation works, 2003-4. Hipped slate roof (continuing into half-conical section to bowed bay; hipped to end bay) with clay ridge tiles, red brick Running bond chimney stacks, and cast-iron rainwater goods on overhanging eaves having paired consoles. Painted rendered walls over random rubble stone construction (some stone work to first floor now exposed). Square-headed window openings (in tripartite arrangement to centre first floor) with cut-limestone sills, six-over-six (ground floor) and three-over-six (first floor) timber sash windows having one-over-two sidelights to tripartite opening (timber casement windows to ground floor bowed bay having overlights). Elliptical-headed door opening approached by four steps having iron railings with timber panelled door having sidelights, and fanlight. Interior with timber panelled shutters to window openings. Set back from road in own grounds with unkempt grounds to site.

A pleasant Classically-composed middle-size house of particular interest for the original intended role as an ecclesiastical residence sponsored by the Board of First Fruits (fl. c.1711-1833) for the Church of Ireland clergy including, initially, Reverend R. P. Vaughan (n. d.). Exhibiting elegant features redolent of the Regency period the house includes delicate fittings to the door opening, a Wyatt-style tripartite window opening, a bowed bay to the Garden (south) Front, an overhanging roof, and so on all of which identify the architectural design significance of the composition. Although having fallen into disrepair following a period of disuse or neglect present (2004) renovation works appear to include the reinstatement of much of the original fabric, thereby safeguarding the continued survival of an important element of the architectural heritage of the locality.