1-9 Steel Dickson Avenue, Portaferry, Co Down, BT22 1LE

A much altered two-storey terrace block containing five dwellings, constructed in three stepped sections that follow the slope of Steel Dickson Avenue. The buildings are of probable mid-19th century origin, constructed in random rubble with red brick dressings to many openings. The terrace is of little architectural interest.

The block fronts west onto Steel Dickson Avenue at the south side of Portaferry town centre, near Shore Street. Most properties have large modern rear extensions, and some have had their front windows enlarged.

Number 1 forms the lowest step at the south end of the terrace. The ground floor features a timber-sheeted half stable door with a small pane in the upper half on the right, and a modern two-pane window with top-hung upper light to the left. The first floor contains a similar window. All front openings have red brick dressings and brick quoins to the upper right section of the facade, with stone cills. The gable is rendered. The rear facade contains a window to first floor close to the eaves. The roof is Bangor blue slate gabled, with a rendered chimney stack with yellow brick upper courses and cast iron down spout and PVC gutter.

Number 3 forms the centre step with Number 5. A timber-panelled and glazed door with simple surround and two steps stands to the right of the ground floor. To the left is an enlarged window opening with modern frame. A similar but slightly smaller window appears on the first floor. Brick dressings remain to the door with remnants of dressings to a window bay on the ground floor, and a cement surround to the first-floor window. Concrete cills and brick quoins to the upper right facade. The gable is rendered. The entire rear is now covered by a large modern two-storey flat-roofed extension. The front roof is gabled with asbestos slates and a rendered and yellow brick potless stack.

Number 5 has a timber-sheeted door to the right and a boarded-up window to the left on the ground floor. The first-floor window is also boarded. Painted brick dressings dress all front openings, with stone cills. No rear access is available. The pitched roof features Bangor blue slates with a recent red brick chimney with simple corbelling and matching pots.

Number 7 forms the uppermost step with Number 9. A modern timber-panelled and glazed door with plain fanlight stands to the right of the ground floor. To the left is a modern large slightly bowed timber window set in an enlarged opening, with rendered surround. A small modern three-pane timber window with top-hung uppermost pane appears on the first floor, with rendered surround and remnants of brick dressings. Concrete cills and brick quoins to the upper right facade. The rear is dominated by a large modern single-storey flat-roofed extension. The front roof is gabled with Bangor blue slates and two matching red brick chimney stacks with rendered caps and no pots. A dormer to the rear of the roof features a doorway leading onto a small terrace on the extension roof.

Number 9 has a plain timber-sheeted door to the right on the ground floor with a two-pane PVC window to the left. A similar window appears on the first floor. Brick dressings dress all bays, with a slight segmental arch curve to the head of the ground-floor window bay. The north gable and narrow left facade are finished in roughcast render. A large modern two-storey flat-roofed extension occupies the rear. The front roof is gabled with Bangor blue slates and a rendered parapet to the north side. Two red brick chimney stacks stand to the north side with pots and to the south with rendered cap and one pot. Cast iron gutter and down spout are present. Prominent electric cabling runs along the whole terrace between ground and first floors.

The site appears vacant on Patrick O'Hare's map of 1799 but had been developed by 1834, when it was known as Back Lane. Valuation returns of around 1835 indicate that almost all properties in the lane were exempt from valuation, suggesting they were modest dwellings. The block may date from later in the 19th century, as the 1902 revisions to the 1861 valuation map appear to indicate. The brick surrounds to window openings also suggest later 19th-century construction, though the 1861 valuation returns themselves list the properties as occupied with no mention of ongoing construction. The terrace lies within a conservation area.