Rose Cottage, 266 Killinchy Road, Ballyministragh, Killinchy, Co Down, BT23 6AB

Rose Cottage is a much altered single-storey house of L-shaped plan, of probable 18th century origin, which assumed its basic current form around the 1840s with further alterations around 1900. The building stands on the east side of Killinchy Road, approximately two miles north-west of Killinchy village.

The south-west facing front facade features a left-of-centre Edwardian-style glazed and gabled porch with intricate tracery and a finial to the tympanum. This porch encloses a panelled entrance door with an elliptical arch radial fanlight and four-pane sidelights. To the left are two large sash windows, with another to the right. A portion set at right angles to the original section is attached to the north-west end, with three sash windows of varying size to its front south-east facing facade.

The south-east gable of the original section merges with a lean-to portion added to the rear. This gable has two sash windows with horizontal glazing bars to its centre and right, the rightmost set at a lower level. The north-west gable of the original section has a window to the left. The rear is dominated by the lean-to section, which has a timber-sheeted door to the far left followed by three windows with horizontal glazing bars. A large modern kitchen window opens to the short north-east face of the lean-to. To the right of the lean-to on the original rear facade is another window with horizontal glazing bars. The rear of the right-angled section has a haphazard appearance, with a projecting flat-roofed section on the far right containing two modern windows to its south-west face. Beyond this, on the rear facade proper, is a fixed-light window, a timber-sheeted door, then a window, door, and window belonging to a store section.

The entire facade is finished in salt-and-pepper pebbledash with smooth render base and surrounds to openings. The rear of the store section is plain cement render. The gabled roof is covered in asbestos slates with five yellow brick chimneys. Cast iron rainwater goods are present. Large rubble-built outbuildings stand to the north and south-west.

Much of the 19th century layout remains discernible with some original detailing surviving. The building is recorded on the Ordnance Survey map of 1834, at which time the original section was free-standing and not yet linked to the north-west portion in L-shaped arrangement. Valuation returns of around 1835 record Robert Lawson as the occupant. By the revised Ordnance Survey map of 1859-60, the house had assumed its present shape and taken the name 'Rose Cottage', then in possession of William Barry, who leased the dwelling and surrounding lands from the Londonderry estate.

During recent renovations, the current owner discovered a sword and long bayonet up the sitting room chimney. The sword appears to be 18th century, and both artefacts may have been concealed in the lead-up to 1798, suggesting the house was standing in the later 1700s. The current owner believes the house once served as a small coaching inn, based on the arrangement of buildings within the grouping.

The house has been altered at various times, with the last major changes occurring around 1900, when the porch, render finish, and current window frames may have been added.