Riverside Farm, 400 Comber Road, Ballystockart, Comber, Co. Down, BT16 1XB

Riverside Farm is a complex one and a half storey vernacular house of probable pre-1834 origin, situated on the east side of Comber Road approximately two miles north of Comber, County Down. The building has grown organically over time and retains considerable character despite successive extensions and alterations.

The house was originally shown on the 1834 Ordnance Survey map as a simple structure with a narrow rear projection. By 1858, the plan had expanded substantially to its present configuration. The rear was extended circa 1840–50, and gabled dormers were added to the front in late Victorian and Edwardian times. The property was significantly renovated in the very late 19th or early 20th century, as evidenced by its gabled dormers, door surround, and marble fireplaces.

The building now presents an L-shaped plan. The main front section, nearest the roadside to the west, faces the road. A single storey gabled section projects at right angles from the south end of this front section. To the rear of the main section stands a gabled return, creating a double gabled appearance when viewed from the north. South of this rear section projects a small gabled portion linking at right angles to a larger gabled outbuilding. These rear portions and the main front section enclose a small yard containing a well, with further outbuildings to the south.

The front façade of the main section comprises three bays given late Victorian and Edwardian formality. The central bay is slightly taller than the outer ones. The main entrance occupies the left side of the central bay and consists of a panelled timber door with simple pilasters, frieze lintel, and cornice. To the right of the doorway are two sash windows with vertical glazing bars. The north bay contains a single similar sash window, as does the south bay. A very narrow sash window appears on the north face of the central bay. The south bay features a large gabled projection with a small four-pane window high in its west-facing gable and a sash window on its south face with a modern two-pane window directly above.

The south gable of the main section has a large flat arch store door with timber sheeted double doors to the right on the ground floor, above which is an upper level window with modern frame. The north gable of the main section contains a sash window at ground floor right, with two upper level windows of modern single-pane frames above.

The north gable of the rear section has an uneven pitch due to a lean-to addition added in fairly recent times. This gable bears two small sash windows with glazing bars to the left and a pair of French doors to the right, with a sash window on the first floor. The south gable of the rear section has a sash window at the centre of the ground floor and a tiny single-pane window to the far left, with two small sash windows bearing Georgian panes on the first floor. A small single storey gabled extension projects from the far right of the ground floor. The north (rendered) portion of this extension appears to be of fairly recent construction, built at the same time as the lean-to. Its west façade has a central timber sheeted door with small glazed panel, flanked by small sash windows in the same style as the front. The rear façade bears a pair of French doors to the left and a sash window to the right. This extension joins at right angles to a large gabled outbuilding to the south.

The rear façade of the rear section has two small sash windows. The rear façade of the main section has a sash window at the ground floor centre with eight small Georgian panes over eight, a small sash window on the upper level right, and a pair of French doors at the far right beyond the large rear section. The entire façade (except sections of the single storey extension) is rendered and painted.

All roof sections are covered in Bangor blue slate. The front of the main section features two late Victorian gabled dormers with decorative ridge tiles, finials, and four-pane tilting window frames. The north bay has two cast iron skylights on its roof, as does the west side of the extension roof. The east side of the rear section roof has three similar skylights. The centre of this roof portion has been cut into to create a small lead-lined 'balcony' revealing a pair of French doors. Four rendered chimney stacks serve the main front section, two serve the rear section, and one serves the return. Rendered parapets are present on the main section. Metal rainwater goods are fitted throughout.

The enclosed rear yard is cobbled and contains a well with stone steps within. Above ground, the well is covered by a curving trough-like construction with low rubble-constructed walls enclosing an area with soil planted with flowers. A small slit opening appears on the south side of the well walls. The roof covering the well, upon which flowers have been planted, is concrete with metal supports beneath.

The property was under rateable value at the time of the first valuation survey. Ordnance Survey maps of 1858 and 1901 confirm the development of the complex plan. The current owners acquired the house in the early 1990s and have since rebuilt part of the rear extension and are currently converting the outhouses to living accommodation.

The extent of listing includes the house and well.