18-20 The Square, Portaferry, Co Down, BT22 1LW

Two storey terrace building at the south-west corner of Portaferry town Square, possibly dating from the late 18th century or earlier. It now contains two shops on the ground floor with an apartment above.

The building appears on Patrick O'Hare's map of Portaferry from 1799, when it was owned by William McCleery. Valuation returns from around 1835 to 1838 record an old low two storey dwelling house on the site belonging to James McCleery (probably a relative of William), which included a cellar, stables and a cow shed to the rear. This 1838 house likely corresponds to the present building, as photographic evidence from around 1890 to 1910 shows it then had an almost vernacular appearance consistent with an 18th or early 19th century date. In 1863 the property was owned by John Finnegan. Around 1900 the building was divided into two properties with shops below and the apartment above. In the early 1900s, No. 18 was a barber's shop run by Mr. Smyth and No. 20 was a tailor's shop with the apartment, belonging to Mr. Malcolm.

The front elevation faces east and is asymmetrical. The building sits on sloping ground. On the ground floor to the left is a well proportioned double fronted timber shop front for No. 20, with recessed front door and timber lined porch with plywood painted fascia. Vertical guide rails remain, though the awning has been removed. To its right is a plain entrance door with fanlight serving the upstairs apartment at No. 19. To the far right is a modern PVC shop window and doorway for No. 18. The first floor has four unevenly spaced timber sash windows. The window to the far left is paired, while the remaining three are single. All windows have horns and no astragals. Rainwater goods are PVC.

The smaller shop front of No. 18 has a modern appearance, while No. 20 has retained something of its early 1900s character.

To the rear, the left side of the ground floor has a single storey gabled return with corrugated iron roof and modern windows and doors. To the right is a single storey flat roofed extension. The first floor rear has four windows, with the second from the far right being a fixed light and the remainder being sash. The ground level drops steeply at the rear, with the rear door accessed by a flight of steps. A raised area has been created adjacent to the rear door by a retaining wall.

The façade is finished in lined render and the gabled roof is covered with Bangor blue slates. There is a yellow brick chimney stack to the south. The building lies within a conservation area.