26 Boveedy Road, Kilrea, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry, BT51 5XU

A detached, symmetrical two-storey three-bay rendered house built in the mid 19th century (1840-1859), located on the western side of Boveedy Road in Kilrea. Originally constructed as a rectangular plan manse for the Boveedy congregation, it was substantially extended during the late 20th century by the addition of a full-height return to the centre of the west elevation, executed in similar style and creating an existing T-shaped plan.

The building is characterised by restrained Georgian proportions and regular openings with simple detailing. It has an overhanging hipped slate roof with roll-moulded black and grey ridge and hip tiles, pitched roof to the gabled western extension. Two rendered and painted chimneystacks flank the central ridge, each carrying three terracotta octagonal pots; a smaller chimney to the west gable of the extension carries two similar pots. Ogee metal rainwater goods consist of combinations of cast iron, uPVC and replacement metal downpipes, mounted on plain timber fascia to overhanging timber-sheeted eaves. The walling is painted render over a contrasting painted base.

Plain square-headed window openings contain painted masonry sills; thinner concrete sills are present to the rear extension. The main house retains original 6/6 timber sashes without horns, while the extension has 6/6 replica timber casements. The symmetrical principal elevation faces east and is three openings wide, vertically aligned about a segmental-headed doorcase to the centre. This contains an original six-panelled timber door with decorative geometric side-lights and a segmental coloured glass fan-light above. The south elevation has regular fenestration two openings wide with two windows at each level. The west elevation contains two windows to the right and left sides with the gabled extension projecting to the centre. The gable is symmetrical with two windows at each floor; the right cheek has three on each floor; the left cheek is asymmetrical with two windows either side of a roughly segmental-headed doorcase positioned left-of-centre. This door is a four-panelled timber replacement with glazing inserts to the upper panels, plain side-lights and a modern interpretation of a fanlight above. The north elevation mirrors the south elevation's detailing.

The house is situated on an elevated site within mature landscaped gardens to the south-west of Kilrea in a rural farmland setting. Primary access is via a sweeping driveway on the eastern side of Boveedy Road, marked by a pair of conical painted and rendered diminutive piers. The drive passes a sunken garden to the west and rises to a bitumen forecourt which encircles all but the northern perimeter and projects over a lower garage to the far west. The principal elevation overlooks further gardens to the east, while the extension and rear elevation address Boveedy Road. Secondary access is from further to the north-west along Boveedy Road, with rendered walls and squared and capped piers lining the entrance path and separating the house to the north from modern stable accommodation to the west. Boveedy Presbyterian Church and Boveedy Manse are located a short distance to the south.

The building was constructed as the manse for the Boveedy congregation and first appears on the third edition Ordnance Survey map of 1905, captioned 'Manse', near the 'United Presbyterian Church'. Griffith's Valuation of 1856-64 lists the house and small garden at £4 5s, occupied by Reverend James Fitzpatrick on a lease from James Orr. By the 1860s the valuation had risen to £7, suggesting improvements at that time. Occupancy changed with clerical incumbency: Reverend Balderston from 1867 and Reverend Walter Buchan from 1876. The 1901 census records Margaret Buchan, widow of Walter, resident with her daughter in the eight-room house, designated as second class. Buchan was the last minister of the congregation, and in 1906 the house passed to Thomas Simpson and subsequently to a succession of tenants. The 1911 census records John Henry, a labourer, resident with his son, also a labourer, and two granddaughters born in County Donegal and Scotland.

A congregation has existed in Boveedy since at least 1680, with the meeting house serving the Tamlaght, Kilrea and Boveedy districts. In 1770 an additional church was built in Kilrea, and both churches were to be served by a single minister. However, the Boveedy congregation, dissatisfied with this arrangement, approached the Secession Synod. A Secession congregation was established from 1780, initially remaining in the old meeting house. Following a dispute over ministerial settlement, part of the Boveedy congregation joined the Associate Presbytery, and a new church was built to the north of the old one. James Fitzpatrick from Killaig was ordained to the charge of Boveedy and Knockloughrim in 1846. Fitzpatrick was succeeded by James C Balderston (1865-68) and Walter Buchan (1868-1896), after which the congregation gradually declined. The former meeting house is now used as Boveedy Orange Hall. The present building continues in use as a domestic dwelling.