The Old Rectory

WEST TORRINGTON RECTORY LANE TF 18 SW (east side) 1/52 The Old Rectory II Rectory, now house. 1850, 1863. Red brick. Slate roofs with 3 ridge stacks, one with 4 tall shafts, the others with tall paired shafts. 2 storey, 4 bay front with right hand bay projecting with gable and cross finial. Plinth. First floor decorated brick band and decorated eaves. Doorway to left in gabled porch and with pointed head. Inner doorway with fanlight and partially glazed door. Three light casement to left, with segmental head. Canted bay window to right with central 3 light casement with segmental head flanked by single narrow fixed lights with segmental heads. 3 light casement to right, with segmental head. 3 pairs of casements above break through roof line with plaster lintels and steeply pitched gables. 3 light casement to right with segmental head. 2 storey polygonal chapel of 1863 attached to east wall with decorated eaves, first floor band and 2 ashlar dressed windows each of 2 pointed lights with plate traceried quatrefoil above, with fine Victorian glass, including the initials of Thomas Wimberley Mossman. Chapel interior very plain and severe with brick decorated eaves. Such a chapel is exceptionally rare in a rectory and reflects the interests and important career of the vicar Thomas Wimberley Mossman who built it. Mossman was vicar of West Torrington from 1859-1885 and was an important and controversial figure in the Oxford Movement, correspondent with Cardinal Newman and founder of a Brotherhood training poor men for the priesthood, who lived at the rectory and caused outrage by their papish dress and practices. He was a noted historian and active Liberal politician as well as being a crucial figure in the early Oecumenical movement.

Listing NGR: TF1381182042