11 Lough Shore Road, Ballywhite, Portaferry, Co Down, BT22 1PD

This is a long, T-shaped, single-storey, gabled cottage likely dating before 1834, although significantly altered and extended in recent years. It is situated on a rise to the east of Lough Shore Road, about one and a half miles northwest of Portaferry.

The front, or south, elevation features the side of the long vertical stroke of the “T” shape. A timber panel door with plain sidelights is positioned centrally. Two modern casement windows are to the left of the door. To the right of the door is a slightly projecting gable (forming the horizontal stroke of the “T”) with a modern timber corner window to its left. The east elevation, representing the short horizontal of the “T” shape, has a modern three-pane timber window to the right, alongside a small timber and wire-fronted cupboard attached to the wall. The rear, or north, elevation has a projecting gable (again, part of the horizontal of the “T” shape) to the left, incorporating a corner timber window to its right. Four modern timber windows are positioned to the right of this projecting gable on the vertical stroke of the “T” shape, with a timber and glazed back door between the second and third windows. The west elevation is the gable end of the long vertical stroke and contains a large fixed light window. The facade is finished with rough cast render and painted. The cottage has a pitched roof covered in concrete tiles, with a single red brick chimney stack. Modern PVC gutters and downspouts are present.

An Ordnance Survey map of 1834 shows a building on this site, which is likely the origin of the present house. When surveyed in 1970, the property retained much of its vernacular appearance, although some window frames were modern. Since then, the house has been extended to the east and modernised. The building is shown on Ordnance Survey maps from 1834, 1860, and 1899-1900, as well as in the 1861 Griffith’s Valuation for the Parish of Arduquin. The construction date is recorded as between 1980 and 1999.