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

This is a relatively large and impressive two-storey terrace house dating from approximately 1790 to 1800, located in the centre of the terrace on the east side of Portaferry town square. The building is set back about one metre behind wrought iron railings and has a frontage of approximately 15 metres.

The house is distinguished by a James Gibbs style doorway at the centre of the ground floor. The main entrance features a panelled timber door with a distinctive surround incorporating a semi-circular arch, keystone, and gothic fanlight. An eleven-panelled door sits above a flight of three steps leading to a landing, with splayed steps to either side. To the left of this doorway are two sash windows, with a further sash window to the right. At the far right of the ground floor is a second doorway, originally a window, which now provides access to a small shop. This doorway has a plain timber sheeted double door with fanlight. Two flat modern plastic signs and a plastic projecting illuminated sign are mounted to the ground floor. The first floor contains five sash windows arranged as before. The front façade is finished in unpainted lined render.

The building has a projecting eaves course with a cast iron box gutter. The gables rise slightly above the neighbouring properties on both the north and south sides and are blank. The roof is covered with Bangor blue slates and features three cast iron skylights to the front. Fireclay copestones cap the gable parapets. Yellow brick decorative chimney stacks with matching pots are visible.

Historical records indicate that this site was occupied by 1799, as shown on Patrick O'Hare's map of that year, with a building positioned exactly where the present structure stands—set slightly back from the line of the main terrace. Valuation returns from approximately 1835 describe a two-storey house that may have been over 30 years old at that time, suggesting this could be the same building seen today. The occupant in 1835 was William Warnock. By 1863, Sarah Anne Watson was recorded as the tenant. In the early twentieth century, the property came into possession of a Mr. Wilson, who appears to have been responsible for converting part of the ground floor into a shop, which originally sold hardware and farming implements.