Site of former 1-5 The Square, Comber, Co. Down, BT23 5DX

Site of former 1–5 The Square, Comber

This site, located on the north-west corner of The Square next to the junction with High Street, once contained a tall two-storey pub and house with an attic storey. The building was demolished in 1999 and replaced by a new public house.

The original structure was of possible pre-1834 origin, though the attic level may have been added during the mid-19th century. At the time of demolition in 1999, a 1975 survey described it as follows: a two-storey corner block with attic, slated roof, gable ends, and rendered chimneys. The walls were rendered, lined and painted grey, with an eaves frieze band and left-hand pilaster jamb. The east front featured drop-hung first-floor windows with horizontal astragals. The ground floor contained a doorway with pilaster jambs and moulding above the lintel, to the right of which were two recently installed top-hung windows, a wide pub window, and a further doorway with a narrow fanlight above. Both doors had two steps onto the public footpath. The building measured approximately 65 feet in frontage and was in fair condition at the time of the survey.

Historical records show the site was occupied as early as 1722. By 1834, the 1834 valuation survey recorded two houses on the site—one in the possession of John McMeckhan and the other of Dr. William Clarke. Both were classified as old properties ('C+' rating), though they were recorded as two-storey buildings with no mention of an attic. By 1846, both properties had come into the hands of James Jeffrey, who was listed as a spirit and porter dealer (publican) in Slater's directories of 1846 and 1856. By 1861, he was operating one of the properties as a hotel. It may have been during Jeffrey's ownership that the roof was raised to create the attic level, though it is possible the entire building dates from this period. Throughout the 20th century the block continued to serve as a pub with publican's residence. Both were eventually acquired by the Milling family, who already owned the adjacent house and shop to the south. Around 1955, approximately 15 feet of the block on the north side was demolished to accommodate the widening of High Street. The remainder of the property was completely demolished in early 1999.