38 Main Street, Richhill, Co Armagh, BT61 9PW

38 Main Street, Richhill, is a relatively plain three-storey terrace house and shop set on the sloping north side of Main Street. The building probably dates from around 1840-1859, though it may be somewhat earlier.

The building likely originated as part of a larger inn that occupied the combined space of the present numbers 36 and 38. This inn, shown on the valuation map of around 1837-38 and occupied by Joseph Jowel, was recorded as a "former inn" already over twenty years old at that point. The inn had closed, probably due to Richhill's relative economic decline following alterations to the road that meant carriers and coaches no longer passed through the town. By around 1860, the original large building had been subdivided into two separate three-storey properties. The present number 38 served as the local constabulary barracks from around 1860 and continued in this use as a police station until approximately 1955, after which it reverted to private use and later served as a hardware shop.

The gabled roof and that of the return are both slated, with decorative clay ridge tiles dating from the mid to later 19th century on the main roof. A rendered parapet sits to the east. The relatively large, roughly central rendered chimneystack on the main roof appears to date from the mid to later 19th century and features a prominent projecting "cornice" course. Metal rainwater goods are present throughout.

The asymmetrical front elevation faces south. To the right of the ground floor is a timber and glazed door with a plain rectangular fanlight. To its left is a plain sash window; the room behind this window appears structurally to belong to number 36 but has actually belonged to number 38 since at least 1860. To the right of the doorway is a similar plain sash window, its sill almost touching the ground due to the slope of the street. Both ground floor windows are covered with security grilles. At the far right is a large elliptical-headed carriage gateway with corrugated iron doors. The first and second floors each contain two windows fitted with recent top-hung timber frames made to resemble sashes. The windows align vertically with each other and with the right-hand ground floor window and the carriage gateway. The first-floor window to the left is larger than that to the right. The front elevation is finished in roughcast with smooth render in-and-out quoins to the right and smooth cement surround to the gateway and as a "keystone" to the doorway, all painted. A small modern laminated signboard sits above the ground floor window to the right. A stone step leads to the doorway.

The rear elevation extends to a two-storey gabled return to the right-hand side. The east face of this return has a small single-storey lean-to devoid of openings. The gable of the return is topped by a large modern single-storey flat-roofed extension built in concrete block. A plain sash window sits on the first floor of the return's gable. The left side of the return shows the back of the carriage arch. The first floor above the right side of the gateway contains a plain sash window. The first floor also has two smaller plain sash windows. The rear elevation (excluding the modern extension) is finished in unpainted roughcast. The inner (east-facing) wall of the carriage arch is roughly harled, though much of its lower half is in random rubble. A long and relatively narrow garden extends to the rear.

The return was not present in the 1837 building, and the chimneystack and red clay ridge tiles all appear to date from the mid to later 19th century. The awkward internal layout, notably the "extra" ground floor room, suggests the property was created by subdivision rather than planned from scratch. The carriage arch, however, was present in 1837.

The building has experienced extensive loss of historic details and fabric, together with modern alterations that have compromised its quality. A large single-storey flat-roofed extension was added to the rear around the 1980s. Apart from the front elevation, little of special architectural character remains. The building is located within a conservation area and is not currently listed.