4 Babington Terrace, Main St., Castlerock, Coleraine, Co.Londonderry

4 Babington Terrace is a two-bay three-storey end-terrace house built around 1860, constructed in uncoursed squared blackstone and situated on the south side of Main Street in Castlerock, County Londonderry. It forms part of Babington Terrace, a group of four houses that makes a significant contribution to the historic character of the village. The terrace has group value alongside the neighbouring Clifton Terrace, and the rubblestone garden wall to the front adds to the quality of the setting.

The building has a square plan with a two-storey return abutted at right angles by a modern two-storey annexe. The pitched roof is covered with natural slate and finished with blue-black angled ridge tiles; the chimneystack is a replacement in red brick with terracotta pots. Cast-iron ogee rainwater goods sit on projecting eaves with a uPVC fascia. The main north-facing elevation shows ruled-and-lined render to the west gable, with roughcast render to the return. The windows are replacement 1/1 timber sash with horns, set in painted smooth render surrounds with projecting painted sills. The north elevation has two openings to each floor, with the ground-floor window aligned left of centre. To the left is a round-headed doorcase containing a raised-and-fielded four-panel timber door with a radial timber fanlight above, positioned within a painted smooth rendered blocked surround with a voussoir arch-head.

The east elevation is abutted by the adjoining building. The south elevation has windows to the upper floors at left and to the landing at right, with a modern uPVC door and large sidelight to the ground floor left. The west gable is blank. The south elevation is abutted by the two-storey return, which has been converted to serve as an entrance for the modern two-storey annexe positioned at right angles.

The property sits set back from Main Street, with concrete to the front enclosed by the original rubblestone garden wall. To the rear is a small yard enclosed by rubblestone and brick walling with brick gate piers to the west supporting a modern timber gate. The entrance to the modern annexe is laid in brick paviors. A gravel alley to the west of the terrace leads to a rear communal yard. The property is bounded to the railway line to the south by high modern metal fencing.

Refurbishment over the years has compromised the original character, and the modern annexe inserted to the rear degrades the building's character in that area. The roof was renovated and windows were replaced during the 1980s. In 2003 the rear was converted into a separate dwelling.

Historically, Babington Terrace was built in 1862–63 by developer Richard Babington and first appears on the third edition Ordnance Survey map of 1904. Castlerock developed as a bathing resort following the opening of a railway halt in 1853 and subsequent promotion by the railway company offering cheap tickets to those who would build or buy villas. The area, which had previously been open countryside, formed part of the Clothworkers' Company estates and later came under the influence of the local landlord Sir Henry Hervey Bruce, who required all new building in Castlerock to be of a certain quality and size. From 1860, Frederick William Porter served as architect to the Clothworkers' Company and may have produced designs for the terrace as part of the Company's development, though Bruce's involvement in promoting the area's quality was also significant. The terrace first enters valuation records as unfinished buildings in 1862, with numbers two, three and four completed by 1863 and number one following shortly after. All houses were initially valued at £11. Richard Babington appeared as initial occupier, but the houses were subsequently taken over by lodgers leasing from Sir Henry Hervey Bruce, who bought out the Clothworkers' Company lands in the 1870s.

The first occupier noted in the current house was James Gilkie in 1882, and the Gilkie family remained resident for some years. In 1901, Mary Gilkey, who lived on the interest of money, occupied the house with two nieces, one employed as a bookkeeper. At the 1911 census, the two nieces were still resident, one describing herself as a commercial clerk and the other as keeping house. The return of the house was extended in 1883, though this was not recognised in valuation records until 1907, when the valuation rose to £15. The Gilkey sisters appear to have remained at the house until the 1950s, when it was taken over by Robert Love. Valuer's notes from the 1930s describe accommodation comprising two receptions, kitchen and scullery on the ground floor; three bedrooms, a maid's room, bathroom and WC on the first floor; and one bedroom and one other room on the second floor. Attached plans show a return of one-and-three-quarter storeys with outbuildings in the rear yard. The terrace was listed in 1977.