7 Church Square, Banbridge, Co Down, BT32 4AP

A four-bay three-storey town-house, now in commercial use as offices, built around 1840. The building forms part of a mixed group of terraces erected in the same period that create a historic townscape illustrating the early development of Banbridge. It is located at the junction of Castlewellan Road and Church Square, adjacent to the Crozier Monument, in the centre of the town.

The building has an irregular plan form with a coach entrance. The roof is pitched natural slate with clay ridge tiles and cast-iron rainwater goods. The walling is ruled-and-lined with partial render and roughcast to the rear. The principal elevation faces northeast and is asymmetrically arranged. The ground floor comprises a square-headed coach entrance to the left and a replacement shop front with illuminated signage. The first and second floors are four windows wide, with 6/6 timber sliding sash windows on the first floor right (with exposed boxes to the second floor) and replacement 1/1 windows, all with painted masonry cills. There is a replacement door with rectangular overlight. The partially rendered chimney has no pots. The left gable abuts the adjoining building at 1 Castlewellan Road.

The rear elevation is asymmetrically arranged and three windows wide. The ground floor has a coach entrance to the right with a blank wall to the left. A projected lean-to at first floor contains two square casement windows. The second floor has three box sash windows. The right gable is abutted by the adjoining building. The rear elevation has uPVC replacement rainwater goods.

In the rear yard stands a two-storey roughcast rendered outbuilding with natural slated roof, now in an advanced state of decay, beyond which is a small car park bounded by the River Bann. The setting includes several terraces along Church Square, with historic structures to the northwest. Opposite the terrace is a large modern brick wall enclosing the police station.

The building was first shown on the second edition Ordnance Survey map in 1860, having been built between adjoining properties constructed by the 1830s. By Griffith's Valuation around 1863, it was occupied by the Reverend John Montgomery of Banbridge First Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church, who rented from William Waugh, a local linen merchant and landowner, at a valuation of £20. Following Montgomery's death in 1867, E. C. Robinson took possession until 1873 when J. C. Stuart became owner. In 1877 Mary Chapman, a local landowner, acquired the dwelling and occupied it until her death around 1901, when her sister Jane Chapman became occupant. The 1901 Census recorded Jane Chapman aged 68, Unitarian, living with her sister Elizabeth aged 66, both deriving income from leasing houses and land in Banbridge. The census building return described the house as first class, consisting of 13 rooms with a stable and cow house to the rear. Upon Jane's death in 1907, James Crozier took possession. The 1911 Census recorded Crozier aged 47, Presbyterian, employed as a tanning flesher and residing at the adjoining No. 2 Church Square with his wife Mary and eight children; he used No. 3 Church Square as a store and shop for his tanning business. Following James Crozier's death around 1921, his wife Mary came into possession. By the first general revaluation of Northern Ireland property in 1935, Mary continued to occupy the house, with its value increased to £23. By the second revaluation in 1956, James Crozier's son had come into possession of both No. 2 and No. 3 Church Square. In 1969 the building was described as one of a number of "ordinary dwellings and shops, mostly c.1830" that were "dependent for their charm on the quality of the paintwork." The building was listed in 1977.

Although the general proportions have been retained, ground floor alterations detract from its historic character. Only the façade survives to represent the original aspect. The loss of fabric and detailing, together with modern alterations, has compromised its architectural and historic interest.