22-24 High Street, Portaferry, Co Down, BT22 1QT

A large, relatively plain three-storey terrace house with shop, of possible pre-1834 construction, located at the end of a terrace block on the north-west side of High Street, to the north-east of Portaferry town centre. The building dates from between 1820 and 1839, with a mid-19th century entrance surround and mainly modern window frames throughout.

The front façade faces south-east and is asymmetrical. To the left of centre is the house doorway, which has a timber panel door enclosed with panelled pilasters, a panelled entablature and cornice supported by console brackets. This surround touches the cill of the window directly above, which could suggest that it was added at some point. To the left of the doorway is an almost square window with PVC frame, an opening that has clearly been altered. To the right of the house doorway is a modern glazed door with adjoining fixed light shop window, with a framed timber painted shop sign above. To the first floor there are four windows, now with PVC frames. To the second floor there are four smaller windows, in line with the first floor openings, with similar PVC frames resting on a cill course.

The north-east and south-west gables are blank. To the right at the rear there is a two-storey gabled return with three sash windows to the first floor on the north-east face, a large modern window and two doorways to the ground floor. The façade of the main rear portion has two windows to first floor level and two to the second. The windows to the left are smaller with modern timber frames. To the ground floor right is a doorway with a metal covering. The façade is largely finished in lined render, with the ground floor rear mainly in roughcast. Bevelled moulded quoins appear to the front and gables. The gabled roof is covered with Bangor blue slates and has three red brick chimneys with simple corbelling and matching pots. A ceramic cope crowns the gable parapet. PVC guttering and down spouts are present throughout. A two-storey rubble-built outbuilding stands to the rear.

A dwelling is shown on this site on Patrick O'Hare's map of 1799, then in possession of Patrick Smyth. The valuation returns of around 1835 indicate that a relatively old, three-storey dwelling was in position at that stage, with James McKibbin listed as resident. It is possible that this is the same house seen today, though the door surround appears to date from around 1850 and could suggest the present building is later, though it is also possible that the surround was simply added to an earlier structure. In 1861 the property was occupied by Thomas McDonnell. The building is located within a conservation area.