78-100 Main Street, Ballywalter, Newtownards, Co. Down, BT22 2PJ

A long mixed terrace of twelve dwellings and shops occupying the northern end of Main Street in Ballywalter. The buildings date from the mid to later 19th century, probably between 1860 and 1879, though the terrace is shown on the Ordnance Survey map of 1834 and some elements may date from the early 19th century. It is possible that some buildings started life as single storey dwellings.

The terrace is generally plain in character and set over two storeys, comprising a mixture of double and single fronted properties. All the houses have undergone alteration to varying degrees. Modern timber and PVC windows and doors have been installed in Nos.82, 86 to 100. Window openings have been enlarged in Nos.90 to 98. Pebbledash or limestone chip render has been applied to Nos.88, 96 and 100. Numbers 90 to 94 may have had ground floor openings blocked at some stage with doorways shifted to the left, suggesting they probably originally resembled No.84. Number 100 formerly had a shop doorway where the second window from the left now stands.

The main roofs are predominantly Bangor blue slate, with the exception of No.82 which has asbestos cement sheeting, and Nos.78 to 80 which have mineral fibre cement slates. Velux windows have been inserted in Nos.80, 84, 94 and 96. The entire terrace has a mixture of cast iron and PVC rainwater goods and a mixture of rendered and brick chimney stacks.

Number 84 is the most original of the dwellings and retains its Georgian sash windows, though it has a modern timber and glazed door and a Velux window. All properties have been extended at the rear with mainly flat roofed additions, some two storeys in height, all fitted with modern windows.

The two shops at the southern end of the terrace are slightly taller than the houses and have been substantially altered in recent times. Ground floor window openings have been enlarged and modern shop fronts installed with PVC internally illuminated signage. Both shops have large returns to the rear. The return to No.80 is unrendered, revealing rubble construction with brick dressings to window openings.

Historical records indicate that Nos.78 to 80 housed the Royal Hotel during the early 20th century. Number 100 formerly served successively as a post office, a shop, and from an unknown date until 1978 as a sub office for the Ulster Bank, used for half a day each week.