2-4 Church Street, Portaferry, Co. Down, BT22 1LS

Three storey terrace house with urban vernacular appearance, situated at the south end of Church Street leading into the Square. The building likely represents an 18th century structure which was raised a storey around 1840. It is little altered and has special architectural interest.

The front elevation, facing east, is asymmetrical and finished in rough cast render, painted. At ground floor level, to the left sits a shop window with a modern door featuring decorative lights and a wooden framed sign above. At the left side of the south gable is a gateway to an alley with a timber sheeted double door. To the right of the shop front is a timber doorway with panels removed and replaced with glazing. A sash window with Georgian panes sits to the right of this doorway. All ground floor doors and windows are noticeably low. The first and second floors each have three windows, matching the pattern of the ground floor right sash window. A small two pane window sits high in the south gable, with the gable finished in plain render. An eaves course runs along the front.

To the rear of No. 2, a shallow two storey flat-roofed extension extends to the right. A long single storey flat-roofed return runs along the ground floor to the left. To the far left is a single storey mono-pitch return containing what appears to be outhouses. Between these returns, the main rear façade features a timber sheeted and glazed door and a sash window at ground level. Two windows of differing size, both with modern frames, are positioned on the first floor. A single window with a modern frame appears on the second floor.

The pitched roof is covered with Bangor blue slates and carries two yellow brick chimney stacks: one at the south gable of No. 2 and another between No. 4 and No. 6. Neither stack has pots. A cement parapet finishes the south gable of No. 2. PVC gutters are fitted throughout.

Historical records suggest that a building on this site was noted in Patrick O'Hare's map of 1799. Valuation returns from 1838 record a two storey house here in possession of James Porter. The irregular urban vernacular appearance and slightly awkward internal layout of the present property suggest it may actually be the 1838 house raised a storey. Elizabeth Little is recorded as the resident in 1863. The building retains special interest for its quality and survival of form, and is located within a conservation area.