The Old Rectory in Kilbixy, County Westmeath

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Detached three-bay two-storey over basement former rectory, built in 1816. Now in use as private dwelling. Hipped natural slate roof with lead ridges and two chimneystacks at ridge level aligned parallel with front façade. Cast-iron rainwater goods. Roughcast rendered walls with projecting plinth at ground floor level. Square-headed window openings to front elevation with tripartite windows with six-over-six pane timber sliding sash windows to ground floor openings and three-over-three pane timber sliding sash windows to first floor. Cut stone sills throughout. Central shallow projecting porch with broken pediment over and a timber door set in round-headed recess with keystone above. Flight of cut stone steps flanked by simple iron railings to entrance front. Set well back from road in mature grounds to the north of Ballynacarrigy and a short distance to the southeast of associated Church of Ireland church (15401102). Range of contemporary single-storey rubble limestone outbuildings to rear (south).

A handsome early nineteenth-century (former) rectory, which retains its early form, character and fabric. The tripartite sash windows are a rare survival and, together with the decorative pedimented porch/door surround, help to elevate this structure above other middle-sized buildings of a similar date and type in the county. This attractive structure has a rather unusual squat appearance, suggesting that it may have been altered or re-roofed at some stage. Lewis (1837) records that in 1816 the Board of First Fruits (1711-1833) granted £450 as a gift and £50 as a loan towards the construction of this rectory. It is possible that this former rectory was originally built to designs by James Wyatt (1746-1813), who was responsible for the designs of the associated Church of Ireland church (15401102) a short distance to the northwest. The Wyatt-style tripartite timber sash windows would add some gravitas to this suggestion, however, Wyatt died in 1813 so it was erected after his death. It occupies a pleasant rural setting and is an integral element of the built heritage of the local area. The good range of outbuildings to the rear complete the setting, and add considerably to this composition.

From the Buildings of Ireland (National Inventory of Architectural Heritage) record 15401105

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Photo credits

National Inventory of Architectural Heritage
Stephan van Helden, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Maker not stated on source page, en.wikipedia.org
Maker not stated on source page, www.joinmychurch.com
Maker not stated on source page, www.go-to-ireland.com
Not stated on source page, www.westmeathexaminer.ie
Maker not stated on source page, www.alamy.com
Maker not stated on source page, visionsofthepastblog.com
Maker not stated on source page, nigelborrington.com

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