Cockle Row, Donaghadee Road, Groomsport, Co. Down, BT19 6JR

Cockle Row is a single storey, four bay vernacular building dating from the early 19th century (1820–1839), located on Donaghadee Road in Groomsport, set back from Main Street facing east. The building is divided into two structurally and visually distinct sections, each with direct entry layout, which creates architectural interest through the contrast of their different roof treatments.

The southern section is thatched, while the northern section has a slate roof. The slated part exhibits walls of increased thickness with construction exposed in a display area, indicating considerable antiquity. The thatch has been restored in acceptable fashion while retaining original features including the hearth and roof construction. The building is finished with blue clay socketed ridge tiles and cast iron rainwater goods. The thatched covering is finished with cement skews at the south gable and abuts the wall of the slated part with cement fillets. At the rear, the thatch is divided into two sections with joints made up of cement skews and fillets, with the southern part set back a little distance. The south gable includes a projection without a stack. Three corbelled chimneystacks rise from the roofs: two from the end walls of the slated part and one over the hearth position of the thatched sections. Only the chimney on the south gable has a pot.

The building's fenestration is varied. The south gable has a buttress flanking a small plain sashed vertically sliding window with sash stops and a sill of traditional depth. Moving from the south corner of the thatched part, the sequence continues with a small plain sashed vertically sliding window with sash stops and no sill, a larger plain sashed vertically sliding window without sash stops or sill, a timber sheeted half door, and another larger plain sashed vertically sliding window without sash stops or sill. The slated part follows with a narrow plain sashed window with sash stops and narrow sill, a timber sheeted door, and two further narrow plain sashed windows with sash stops and narrow sills. At the rear, small plain sashed vertically sliding windows with sash stops and no sill light the kitchen of the thatched part and the reception area of the slated part. The north gable is blank.

The building's setting includes the north gable overlooking the harbour with Cockle Island beyond. The forecourt is paved with large orange coloured concrete tiles with an inset panel of red and grey tiles before the entrance, extending around the north gable. A disabled ramp has been formed in front of the entrance. The rear and south gable areas are grassed in front of rough stone or concrete hard standing.

The building has historical significance as a local landmark. It is recorded on the Ordnance Survey map of 1833 in its present form and has associations with Groomsport's role as a departure point for Presbyterian emigrants—notably the ship "Eagles Wing" in 1631—and the landing of William III's advance army in 1689. The forge at Cockle Row is said to have been associated with these events. Early 20th-century postcards from around 1930 document the building when it was operated as a tea room by Peggy and Mercy Hunter. The building now functions as a gallery and museum.