High Street Dental Practice, 116 High Street, Holywood, Co Down, BT18 9HW

A symmetrical three-bay two-storey-with-attic terraced house, now in use as a dental practice, built circa 1830 and located on the east side of High Street in Holywood town centre.

The building is square on plan with single-storey box bays to the front and a single-storey return to the rear. The pitched roof is clad in natural slate with blue and black angled ridge tiles and raised stone verges. Rendered chimneystacks with tall terracotta pots support cast-iron ogee rainwater goods on projecting eaves. The walling is painted smooth render.

The principal elevation faces northwest and is three openings wide. Windows throughout are 1/1 timber-framed sashes in moulded surrounds with masonry sills. Two dormer windows with diminutive 2/2 windows light the attic level. The ground-floor box bays have paired windows and panelled pilasters, surmounted by plain architrave and dentilled cornice. At the centre of the principal elevation, a double-leaf six-panelled timber door with brass lion-head knocker and transom light is flanked by pilasters with entasis on plinths, topped by plain architrave and dentilled cornice. A projecting bay at the far right has been incorporated into the adjoining building.

The northeast elevation is partially concealed by the adjoining building at the north corner. The southeast (rear) elevation displays irregular fenestration, with some windows replaced in uPVC, including a 1/1 window to the first floor and a 3/3 window to the attic level. A two-storey lean-to return, now incorporated into the adjoining building, is abutted at the far left, alongside a single-storey return with timber-sheeted doors and a casement window. The southwest elevation is abutted by the adjoining building.

Alterations incorporating a section of this building into the adjoining property have been made. The floor-plan has been substantially altered to accommodate the current dental practice use. The building is set back from the street with a tarmacadam car park to the front and a gravelled yard to the rear enclosed by a roughcast rendered wall.

Historical context: The building first appears on the first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1834, then depicted as an oblong building with a rear return. It was occupied by Dr. Samuel McIllveen, a prominent local figure and member of the Parish Vestry, who operated one of Holywood's two Dispensaries in the 1830s. By 1861, Dr. Archibald D. Dunlop operated a Dispensary from High Street premises; records indicate he occupied a house valued at £22 with the dispensary valued at £4 in a separate property. Dr. Dunlop ran the dispensary until 1901 when his son Sheldham Dunlop assumed operation. By 1931, the local Dispensary had relocated to premises further north on High Street. The house changed ownership by 1930 when William Wilson acquired the property, briefly renaming it 'Grendor'. Alterations, including the connection of part of this building to the adjoining No. 118 High Street, had been completed before 1973. Although of some local significance as one of the older buildings on the main street, the building's architectural interest has been compromised by extensive interior alterations to accommodate its current use.