52-54 Mountstewart Road, Ballycastle, Newtownards, Co. Down, BT22 2AX

A pair of picturesque rubble-built single storey semi-detached estate workers' houses dating to the 1860s, set on the north side of Mountstewart Road close to the Mount Stewart demesne, roughly three miles north west of Greyabbey. The houses are part of a small collection of similar dwellings in the area.

Both houses have been altered in recent times with the addition of large extensions. The main gabled roof is slated with a large overhang and features two brick chimney stacks arranged asymmetrically. Number 54 has a large timber-sheeted flat-roofed dormer to the front elevation with two large four-light casement windows. Number 54 has a mixture of cast iron and PVC rainwater goods; Number 52 has no rainwater goods as yet. A large section of the grassy bank behind Number 52 has been excavated to accommodate its extension.

The front south elevation is now asymmetrical. At the centre is a relatively large gabled porch with sandstone quoins, which are badly damaged in places on Number 52. On the east and west sides of the porch are doorways: that to the west leading to Number 52 is currently without a door, while Number 54 has a timber-sheeted door. The front gable of the porch has a three-light timber casement window with a trefoil in the tympanum. To the right of the porch (Number 54) are two similar windows; Number 52 has two window openings without frames. The main gable of Number 54 has two small two-light casement windows at attic level; Number 52 has two similar openings without frames. The rear of Number 52 now features a very large two-level extension with a largely monopitched roof, gabled half dormers, and a small gabled entrance projection at the intersection of the main house and extension. This extension was still under construction at the time of recording and has no window frames or doors. Number 54 has a smaller though still substantial two-level extension, which leans against the extension of Number 52, with a single gabled half dormer, plain sheeted timber doors, and PVC windows. The rear of the main section of Number 52 has a large PVC window with a small original multi-pane window to its left.

According to the owner of Numbers 48-50, these houses were constructed in the 1860s and belonged to the Mount Stewart Estate until recently. The land to the north of Mountstewart Road does not appear to have been part of the estate proper, though it undoubtedly belonged to the Londonderrys at some point. The houses have the appearance of estate workers' cottages and may have been built for that purpose.