Survey Data
Reg No
15605249
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic, Historical, Social
Original Use
Rectory/glebe/vicarage/curate's house
Historical Use
House
Date
1810 - 1815
Coordinates
271458, 127994
Date Recorded
21/06/2005
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached three-bay two-storey Board of First Fruits Church of Ireland glebe house, built 1812, on a rectangular plan with two-bay two-storey side elevations. Occupied, 1911. Extended, ----, to accommodate continued private residential use. Hipped slate roof on a U-shaped plan with clay ridge tiles, cement rendered chimney stacks on axis with ridge having capping supporting terracotta octagonal pots, and cast-iron rainwater goods on rendered cut-granite eaves retaining cast-iron octagonal or ogee hoppers and downpipes. Roughcast walls on rendered plinth. Elliptical- or segmental-headed central door opening into glebe house with concealed dressings framing glazed timber panelled double doors having fanlight. Square-headed window openings in tripartite arrangement centred on square-headed window opening (first floor) with cut-granite sills, timber mullions, and concealed dressings framing nine-over-six (ground floor) or six-over-six (first floor) timber sash windows having three-over-two (ground floor) or two-over-two (first floor) sidelights. Square-headed window openings (remainder) with cut-granite sills, and concealed dressings framing six-over-six timber sash windows. Interior including (ground floor): central hall retaining carved timber surrounds to door openings framing timber panelled doors, moulded plasterwork cornice to ceiling centred on "Acanthus" ceiling rose, staircase on a dog leg plan with turned timber "spindle" balusters supporting carved timber banister terminating in volute, carved timber surrounds to door openings to landing framing timber panelled doors, and moulded plasterwork cornice to ceiling centred on "Acanthus" ceiling rose; reception room (south) retaining carved timber surround to door opening framing timber panelled door with carved timber surround to window opening framing timber panelled shutters, and plasterwork cornice to ceiling; reception room (north) retaining carved timber surround to door opening framing timber panelled door with carved timber surround to window opening framing timber panelled shutters, and plasterwork cornice to ceiling; and carved timber surrounds to door openings to remainder framing timber panelled doors with timber panelled shutters to window openings. Set in landscaped grounds.
Appraisal
A glebe house erected with financial support from the Board of First Fruits (fl. 1711-1833) representing an important component of the early nineteenth-century built heritage of Rosbercon with the architectural value of the composition, one rooted firmly in the contemporary late Georgian fashion, confirmed by such attributes as the deliberate alignment maximising on panoramic vistas overlooking rolling grounds with the undulating skyline of New Ross as a backdrop; the compact rectilinear plan form centred on a restrained doorcase showing a simple radial fanlight, albeit one largely concealed behind a later porch; the definition of the principal "apartments" by curvilinear bows; and the diminishing in scale of the openings on each floor producing a graduated visual impression with those openings showing Wyatt-style tripartite glazing patterns. Having been reasonably well maintained, the elementary form and massing survive intact together with substantial quantities of the original fabric, both to the exterior and to the interior where contemporary joinery; and sleek plasterwork refinements, all highlight the artistic potential of a glebe house having historic connections with the Rosbercon parish Church of Ireland clergy including Reverend Thomas Wallis (d. 1839; The Gentleman's Magazine 1839, 660); Reverend Henry Helsham (----; The Gentleman's Magazine 1850, 426); Reverend Boles Reeves (d. 1891) 'late of Rosbercon County Kilkenny [sic]' (Calendars of Wills and Administrations 1891, 662); and Reverend Robert Young Heatly DD (1827-1912), 'formerly of Rosbercon New Ross County Wexford and late of Lyster Lynne Street Kevin's Park Upper Rathmines County Dublin' (Calendars of Wills and Administrations 1912, 270); and thereafter the Saint Mary's New Ross parish Church of Ireland clergy including Reverend William Gibson MA (1865-1936), 'Rector [of] Saint Mary's Parish New Ross' (NA 1911).