Manse, 15 Manse Hill Road, Newry, Co Down, BT34 1ND

This mid-19th century manse is located on the west side of Manse Hill Road in Newry, County Down, and retains its mature garden and rear outbuilding. It was built for, and served, Donaghmore Presbyterian Church (listed separately as HB16/14/007) until 1971.

The two-storey, three-bay manse has a hipped natural slate roof which is arranged in a ‘U’ shape and faces south. Overhanging eaves support metal rainwater goods. The walls are cement-dashed. The front elevation features three granite steps leading to a painted and rendered recessed entrance containing a four-panelled, bolection-moulded door with a beaded muntin, and a segmental fanlight above. Single, horizontally divided sash windows (2/2) are present in each remaining bay on the facade, with those on the first floor slightly reduced in height. The east elevation has two bays, with a window on each floor. The rear (north) elevation features a wall-head chimney on the right and is adjoined by a two-storey return with its own hipped natural slate roof, the ridge of which meets the main house’s eaves. The return has a modern window on its rear (north) wall at ground floor and a modern door on its west side. Its east side is blank. Other features of the rear elevation include a modern ground floor window at centre, a large multi-glazed sliding sash window with a spoke-head between the ground and first floors, and small modern casement windows on the right bay of each floor. The west elevation has a canted bay window at ground floor right, with a shallow natural slate roof and a large window on each cheek. The remaining bays on this elevation have matching windows. A front driveway, featuring an iron gate screen with spearheads, leads down the right side of the house to a small domestic yard at the rear. The mature garden extends to the front and left of the house. The yard is enclosed to the north by a two-storey outbuilding.

The manse does not appear on the 1859 Ordnance Survey map or in the 1862 Valuation book, but is noted in the 1866 Valuation revision book, suggesting a construction date in the early 1860s. At that time, it was recorded as belonging to the Trustees of the Presbyterian Congregation of Donaghmore and was associated with Donaghmore Presbyterian Church (HB16/14/007). It served as the residence for the church’s ministers until 1971.