78 Cotton Road, Cotton, Donaghadee, Co Down, BT19 7QH

This is a single-storey vernacular house likely built between 1820 and 1839, situated on the north side of Cotton Road, approximately 1.5 miles west of Donaghadee. The house is asymmetrical, with its front facade facing roughly south. A relatively modern, partly glazed door is positioned slightly left of centre, flanked by two windows and then three unevenly spaced windows, all featuring modern frames. Both gables are blank.

At the rear, to the right of centre, is a small lean-to extension with a timber sheeted door and a window with a modern frame on its north face. A tiny, fixed four-pane window is set into the west face. The rear facade mirrors the front, with three unevenly spaced windows. The entire building is finished with painted lined render.

The gabled roof is covered in asbestos slates, with red clay ridge tiles and cream clay parapets, extending also to the lean-to roof. Three cream brick chimney stacks, each with a cornice course, are present. Cast iron rainwater goods are visible.

An Ordnance Survey map from 1834 shows a building matching the size and shape of the present house, although it was not recorded in the valuation rolls of around 1836, being below the rateable value. Records from around 1861-1863 identify a John Alexander as the occupant. The property was acquired by the current owner’s family in 1934 from a Mr Hugh Forster.