22 The Square, Portaferry, Co Down, BT22 1LW

22 The Square, Portaferry

A large, plain and informal two-storey terrace house of mixed date, with part of the structure probably dating from before 1834 and part from the mid-19th century. The building now has a dry dash facade. It is located at the southern edge of the terrace on the west side of The Square in Portaferry town centre, built on the squint and set on a slope, with a 14-metre frontage.

The front eastern facade is asymmetrical. To the right of centre on the ground floor is the main entrance, which has a panelled door with a smooth cement surround. Adjacent to the entrance is a vestibule screen with a glazed door and sidelights featuring acid-etched floral patterning, and a plain three-pane fanlight above. To the left of the entrance are three evenly spaced sash windows, and to the right are two similar windows. All windows have surrounds matching those of the doorway. The first floor has six unevenly spaced sash windows, largely in line with the ground floor openings though not precisely aligned, with similar surrounds. The front facade is finished in recent dry dash, with plain cement render to the recessed base and wall edges. An eaves course runs below, with prominent surface-mounted electricity cables. The gabled roof is covered in natural slate, and there are two yellow brick chimney stacks with projecting capstones. PVC guttering is present.

Historical records show that a building stood on this site by 1799, when it was recorded on Patrick O'Hare's map as being in the possession of a Mrs. Galway. Around 1835, valuation returns mention a two-storey dwelling belonging to Sarah Bailie, but the dimensions given suggest this earlier building was considerably smaller than the present structure. By around 1863, valuation records confirm that the property had expanded to its current dimensions and was recorded as relatively newly built by the valuers. In 1861, the occupant was listed as Eliza Warnock, and the property at that time included a long line of outbuildings and warehouses extending into Castle Street, including a large former corn store. The site lies within a conservation area.