Former ‘Woburn Stores’, [Off Gorman’s Lane], Ballywalter Road Ballyrolly, Millisle, Newtownards, Co. Down, BT22 2JN

This small, single-storey building, likely dating from the 1850s, was originally a schoolhouse and later converted into two dwellings. It was situated on a slight rise off Gorman’s Lane, approximately one mile south of Millisle, County Down. The building was constructed of basalt rubble and was demolished around the year 2000.

The front, or southeast, facade presented a symmetrical arrangement, originally featuring a door, a window, and another door, from left to right. Both doorways were originally framed by pilasters, an entablature, and a cornice, while the window openings had simple surrounds with label mouldings. All openings are now blocked. Each gable featured two attic windows, also blocked, with surrounds matching those of the front windows. A high basalt rubble wall extended from each gable, enclosing the rear yards. Within the yards, the remains of two large, symmetrically placed, “lean-to” projections, partly demolished, were evident. The rear facade originally featured two blocked rear doors (one for each property) with small, blocked window openings above, remnants of sash frames remaining. The front facade and gables, including the yard walls, were unrendered with chamfered quoins at the front, while the rear facade was rendered. The pitched roof was covered with Bangor blue slates, with a modern, now-blocked, flat-roofed dormer on the left of the front elevation. A central rendered chimney stack was positioned behind the ridge, and the roof had an overhang. A small modern lean-to “store” was attached to the northeast gable.

An Ordnance Survey map from 1858-60 identifies a building matching the structure's plan and location as “School Ho.” suggesting its original use as a schoolhouse. However, it is thought it was later converted to two dwellings, evidenced by the addition of gable attic windows and surrounds to the openings. Around the 1970s, the building served as both a house and a shop within a caravan site, at which time the dormer was added. An earlier Ordnance Survey map from 1833-4 indicates that a slightly longer building occupied the site previously. Supporting documentation includes valuation records and Ordnance Survey maps held at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland.