28 Shore Road, Holywood, Co Down, BT18 9HX

A three-storey, two-bay early Victorian terrace townhouse built around 1840, forming part of a terrace of three within a longer run of terraced houses on Shore Road in the centre of Holywood. The building illustrates the development of Holywood in the early nineteenth century, when Shore Road—formerly Shore Street—evolved from a thoroughfare of thatched cabins into a genteel residential area attracting professional and mercantile classes seeking to escape Belfast.

The house is rectangular on plan with a two-storey return and a single-storey flat-roof modern extension to the rear. The pitched natural slate roof is fitted with a rendered chimneystack and terracotta pots. Cast-iron half-round rainwater goods are fitted throughout. The walling is painted smooth render, bearing a moulded tablet inscribed "Arch-Ville". According to historical records, this terrace was built by John Jackson around 1840 and first appears on the second edition Ordnance Survey map of 1858.

The principal elevation faces east and comprises two openings with a canted bay window to the left at ground floor. Windows are timber-framed sliding sashes with painted masonry projecting sills. The first-floor windows are 6/6 panes in moulded architrave surrounds, while the second-floor windows are smaller 3/3 sashes in plain reveals. The canted bay windows are 1/1 with horns. The entrance door to the right features a six-panelled timber door in a moulded surround with a transom light, surmounted by decorative console brackets and an ovolo-moulded cornice that extends over the canted bay. Architectural detailing to the main elevation remains largely intact.

The south and north elevations are abutted by adjoining buildings. The west (rear) elevation has asymmetrical openings to the upper floors, with a two-storey return to the left featuring a replacement timber-framed window to the gable, and a single-storey brick flat-roof extension running the length of the elevation.

The building is set back from the road with a small front garden enclosed by a painted masonry wall with saddleback coping stones and modern cast-iron railing. The rear comprises a gravelled garden with timber decking, enclosed to the south by a rubble-stone wall, to the north by a timber fence, and to the west by a masonry wall with a modern timber gate.

Conversion from residential to office use has resulted in some loss of interior detailing, although the floor-plan remains largely intact. Historical records show the house was valued at £14.10s in Griffith's Valuation (1856–64), with the occupier listed as George Wood. A succession of occupiers followed, including John Dowling (1864), Francis Todd (1887), John King (1890), George Gilpin (1902), Joseph Macauley (1908), Edward H Branagh (1909), and Elizabeth McKee (1915). In 1902, the valuer noted that new bow windows had been added to the terrace—or rather old ones enlarged—and the valuation was consequently raised to £12.10s. The immediate lessor became Wilson McIlroy in 1902, followed by Mary E McIlroy in 1924.