26 Church Street, Portaferry, Co. Down, BT22 1LS

26 Church Street, Portaferry

A substantial but relatively plain two-storey terrace house dating from approximately 1830–35, situated on the north-west side of Church Street with its front elevation facing east.

The front elevation is asymmetrical. At ground floor level there is a six-panel timber door with a plain fanlight positioned left of centre, separated from a narrow pier to its left by a modern two-pane window. Two further windows of similar style sit to the right of the doorway. All windows and doors have moulded surrounds, with stone cills, plinth, and quoins throughout.

The first floor contains three sash windows with horns, also featuring moulded surrounds and stone cills.

The rear of the building contains two extensions. The left extension is single storey with a hipped, canted pitched roof finished in Bangor Blue slate. The right extension is two storey but considerably smaller and squat in proportion, positioned centrally with a flat roof. The main elevation to the rear contains three windows: those at far left and right are smaller with two-pane PVC frames, whilst the central window (positioned above the two-storey extension) is a large modern four-pane timber window. Two Velux windows light the main roof.

The gabled roof is covered in Bangor Blue slates with cement render parapets. Rendered chimney stacks carry an assortment of pots. An aluminium extruded ogee gutter with cast iron downspout is fitted, together with a rusticated eaves course. Prominent electric cabling is visible.

Historical records indicate that a building stood on this site in 1799, shown on Patrick O'Hare's map as the property of David Swaile. The present house is likely the newly constructed two-storey dwelling belonging to Henry Kerr, recorded in the valuation returns of approximately 1838. Henry Kerr (or his son of the same name) remained the owner in 1863, although the house was noted as unoccupied at that time.

The property is situated within a conservation area.