25 The Square, Portaferry, Co Down, BT22 1LR

25 The Square, Portaferry

A small, plain two-storey urban vernacular terrace dwelling of possible 18th-century construction, dating to around 1780–1799. The house stands on the east side of Portaferry town Square, close to the south-east corner. It has been substantially altered in recent times and now possesses little architectural interest.

The west-facing front façade is asymmetrical. At ground floor level, a modern panelled and glazed door with a very low lintel sits to the far left, while a relatively large sash window with vertical astragals (two panes over two) and horns occupies the far right. The first floor contains two windows with modern frames (top hung over fixed light). The side elevations include a modern flat-roofed extension with deep timber fascia to the rear east face, a modern door to the east face, and a modern window to the south-west face; the first floor of these elevations has two modern windows. The façade is finished in lined render and painted, with moulded quoins. The gabled roof is covered in Bangor blue slates and has an eaves course. A modern red brick chimney is shared with No. 24. A cement parapet divides the property from No. 26. Cast iron guttering with a downspout shared with No. 26 is visible, with prominent electric cabling running below the guttering.

Historical records indicate that a building on this site appears on Patrick O'Hare's map of Portaferry from 1799, noted as being in the possession of Widow Moreland. The 1838 valuation survey describes the house on this site as a two-storey dwelling of considerable age, probably dating to the mid to later 18th century. It is likely that the dwelling recorded in 1838 is substantially the same building that survives today. In 1838, the resident was Francis McCracken, and by 1863 the owner was listed as James Moreland, presumably a descendant of Widow Moreland of 1799, with a McCracken (possibly a relative) again recorded as occupant.