2 William Street, Newtownards, Co Down, BT23 4AE

This is a substantial two-and-a-half-storey terraced house, dating from approximately 1840 to 1850, built of Scrabo stone and exhibiting a late Georgian style. It forms part of a wider two-storey gabled terrace of shops, offices, and flats situated on the western side of William Street and returning into Corry Street. The terrace is constructed from squared Scrabo sandstone rubble, with a main roof covered in Bangor blue slates and four rendered chimneys. The terrace is generally in good condition, although alterations have been made to some of the properties.

The front elevation is largely intact. The doorway, located on the right-hand side, features fluted pilasters and a moulded semicircular archivolt enclosing a panelled door with a semicircular fanlight with ‘spider web’ tracery. A projecting sign is positioned above the doorway. To the left of the doorway are two sash windows with Georgian panes, both set on a cill course, with a wall and plinth rendered below. A similar arrangement of three windows is present on the first floor. The southern gable is blank except for a narrow window on the first floor, which has a modern frame and is rendered.

The rear features a full-height gabled return, also rendered, with a large two-storey lean-to extension constructed of concrete brick built onto the gable. The northern facade of this return is entirely blank. The rear facade of the main house is rendered and contains a single window, mirroring the front. This facade likely previously had small attic windows, consistent with the rest of the terrace. The ground floor is fully covered by the return extension, which also incorporates a single-storey extension to the southern facade. Two small cast iron skylights are located on the rear of the main roof, and the return roof is covered with Bangor blue slates and has stone parapets. A mixture of cast iron and PVC rainwater goods are visible.

Only part of the terrace is shown on the revised Ordnance Survey map of 1858-60, specifically numbers 2-4 William Street. The return to Corry Street and number 8 William Street were not built at that time. Historical records, including leases and maps from the Londonderry Papers and Ordnance Survey maps, document the property’s development.

The building exhibits architectural interest due to its style and proportions, although alterations detract from its original appearance. It also contributes to the group value of the terrace. Its historical interest lies in its local significance. Formerly used as a house within the terrace, it is now an office.