3 + 5 Downpatrick Street, Rathfriland, Newry, Co Down, BT34 5DG

3 and 5 Downpatrick Street, Rathfriland

A two-storey, two-bay commercial building on the west side of Downpatrick Street, dating from the 19th century (probably between 1835 and circa 1862, though buildings are shown on this plot from 1776). This type of building was once common in Ulster towns and is becoming increasingly rare. The structure is unusual in that it incorporates two clearly different buildings, each originally separate with its own roof and different detailing. The right bay was part of a larger block of three buildings.

Both bays have pitched natural slate roofs with clay ridge tiles. The slates to the left bay are more finely dressed. The left bay has a painted rendered chimney with a projecting cap and two terracotta pots on its south gable, with a rendered skew to the gable edge. The right bay, which is higher due to the rise of the street, has no chimney. Both bays are served by plastic half-round gutters; that to the left bay is supported on an advanced eaves course with a cast-iron downpipe to the left of the façade, while the gutter to the right bay runs the length of the façade, draining into the adjacent property to the north which shares the same roof.

All external walls are smooth rendered and painted. The left bay has a plain wall with a modern shop front at ground floor. The entrance, positioned to the right, consists of a painted timber door with two raised and fielded bolection-moulded panels below a plain glazed top panel. To the left of the entrance is a fixed rectangular window with a flush cill. At first-floor level, the left bay has two 2/2 vertically divided sliding sash windows with exposed timber boxes and painted granite cills. The right bay is flanked by two broad slightly advanced piers with plain block capitals, between which runs a broad eaves course. An advanced chamfered basecourse and thin rendered cill course run between ground and first floors. The ground floor of the right bay has a rectangular single-paned shop window without a cill at its centre. Centred above at first-floor level is a 6/6 sash window. The exposed party wall between the two bays is rendered and blank, as is the left gable which is abutted by a lower building. A modern plastic advertising canopy runs the length of the façade, above which is a modern plastic fascia board and projecting sign.

The rear elevation is much altered and of no architectural interest. Both walls are cement rendered. Each bay has a single sheet metal door and an assortment of partially infilled metal-framed windows at ground floor, with metal-framed windows at upper level irregularly spaced. The rear elevation fronts an alley, with access gained through the vehicular entrance of No. 13 Downpatrick Street. The right gable of the right bay is abutted by a building of similar height.

This is not of special architectural or historic interest.