70 Castle Street, Ballycastle, Co Antrim, BT54 6AR

70 Castle Street is a two-storey terrace house and shop of possible mid-18th century construction, located on the north side of Castle Street close to Ballycastle town centre. The building likely dates from around 1740–70, when the town assumed much of its present form under improving landlord Hugh Boyd. It is documented in the 1834 valuation as an old house of similar dimensions to the present structure, then occupied by Dr O'Neill and David Wilson, and is undoubtedly one of the 127 two-storey houses mentioned in the Ordnance Survey Memoirs of 1835.

The asymmetrical south-facing front elevation is rendered and painted. The ground floor comprises a large shop window with recent timber frame to the left and centre, with a panelled door to the right. Both have simple pilaster jambs, and above is a simple painted signboard with projecting cornice. To the right of the shop front is a panelled door leading to the house. The first floor has three evenly spaced windows with plain timber sash frames. The building retains a bevelled base course. Despite the addition of three Velux windows to the front elevation, the front has maintained its traditional appearance and is of value to Castle Street. The building exhibits style, proportion, and ornamentation of sufficient character to be regarded as special.

To the rear is a large two-storey gabled extension which appears to have been extended in recent years, rendered in plain cement with modern windows. Wedged between the extension and a high boundary wall to the east is a long narrow flat-roofed section with a modern door to the north end. To the north gable of the extension is a large lean-to shed. Only a small portion of the rear elevation of the main building is exposed, here showing a sash window consistent with the front. The main gabled roof has a relatively steep pitch and is slated to the front with relatively large slates; to the rear it appears to be covered in artificial slate. At least one Velux window is present to the rear. A rendered chimney stack with rendered coping and matching octagonal clay pots stands to the east. The gabled roof of the return is covered in artificial slate, with a tall rendered chimney stack to the west side. Metal rainwater goods run the front, with PVC to the rear.

By 1859, the property comprised a shop and parlour below, two rooms over, and garrets. The building was subsequently occupied by a succession of residents, with the shop operating variously as a general store and later as a hairdresser's. A range of small cottiers' dwellings existed in the yard and garden to the rear in 1834, evidenced by remnants visible on the western wall; these are not mentioned in later valuations.

The property was extensively renovated in 1982, when the roof was reconstructed, the return practically rebuilt and extended, and the internal space completely redesigned. The 1982 renovation converted the shop use to a hairdresser's. The building is of local historic interest and is situated within a conservation area.