96-98 Frances Street, Newtownards, Co Down, BT23 3DY

Two storey terrace block of circa 1830, formerly consisting of two houses, now a restaurant, located on the north side of Frances Street near its eastern end in Newtownards.

The front south-facing facade is constructed in sandstone and, despite modern alterations, retains much of its original character. The principal feature is a large central elliptical arch recess, formerly a carriage entrance, now fitted with a modern glazed door and sidelights. Above the archway sits a PVC internally illuminated sign. To either side of the central arch are 'Gibbsian'-style 'Ards' doorways, now glazed. At the far left and far right of the ground floor are windows with PVC frames and narrow smooth render surrounds. The first floor contains three evenly spaced windows of similar treatment, with a PVC internally illuminated projecting sign positioned between the second and third windows.

The rear facade has been completely modernised and greatly extended in recent times, with a massive two storey gable return set at different levels. Nothing of the original rear facade remains. The main roof is pitched with Bangor blue slates to the front and concrete tiles to the rear. A small rendered chimney stack stands to the east side of the roof at the rear.

The interior has been completely altered beyond recognition following conversion to restaurant use, which occurred sometime after 1972.

Frances Street was laid out circa 1817 as part of a new broad thoroughfare linking the new coach road from Belfast to the Donaghadee Road. It appears to have replaced a much narrower Back Lane shown on Colville's 1720 plan of the town. The 1834 Ordnance Survey Map indicates that the western side of Frances Street had been developed by that date, though the eastern end (then known as 'Little Frances Street') remained largely undeveloped on the south side. This particular site appears to have been built upon by 1834, suggesting the houses were erected between circa 1811 and 1834. The Ordnance Survey Memoirs of circa 1834 reference the erection of new houses by the Marquis of Londonderry at this time, granted on leases of 60 years or 3 lives at 1 shilling per foot, with house erection also at 1 shilling per foot. Valuation records of circa 1836 identify the block as part of a group of 'thirteen houses exempt' (below rateable value of £5). The carriage arch, until recently completely filled in with matching Scrabo sandstone, has now been partly revealed.