7 Ann Street, Ballycastle, Co Antrim, BT54 6AA

7 Ann Street, Ballycastle

A 3 bay wide, 3 storey high public house dating from the late 19th century (1880–1899), constructed with a basement and small back return. The building stands within a terrace on Ann Street in a conservation area and is substantially unchanged from its appearance on the first Ordnance Survey map of 1832 (revised 1856).

The street front elevation retains original external features and demonstrates early Victorian proportions and detail. The ground floor contains two 4-panelled entrance doors positioned almost side by side, each with a shallow plain fanlight above. Thin pilasters flank each doorway. The door on the right provides access to the ground floor; the left door is now false and does not open. To the left of the left door sits a single pane large squarish window with embossed glass and "McCarroll's Bar" imprinted in gold lettering, with pilasters on each side. A name fascia runs across the window and both doors. To the right of the right-hand door is a rectangular timber window with sliding sash mechanism, 1 over 1, with horns, set in a moulded surround.

The first floor displays three double-hung sliding sash windows with 2 pane sashes, evenly spaced and centred on the façade, each fitted with matching architraves. The second floor likewise features three double-hung sliding sash windows with 2 pane sashes and similar architraves, though of lesser height, with heads set under the eaves. The walls are rendered smooth and painted. A smooth rendered painted plinth runs at base level. The roof is laid with Bangor blue slates in regular courses, with metal gutter and downpipe. Smooth rendered unpainted chimney stacks stand at each gable.

The rear elevation is 2 storey with basement. The main block features a pitched roof of Bangor blue slates in regular courses with dark toned ridge tiles, PVC gutters and PVC and modern metal downpipes. Two smooth rendered chimneys with modern pots sit at each extremity of the main ridge. The wall is rendered with wet dash finish and includes a smooth rendered projecting eaves course. The wall rises to two gabled dormers with PVC eaves boards, fascias and gutters. Plastic ventilators are present in the apex of the right-hand dormer. Windows in the main block are modern rectangular stained timber fixed lights with top-hung vents, set in plain reveals with projecting concrete cills. Windows to the first floor are similar to those in the dormers, except one to the left is painted white.

A central gabled rear return projects from the main block, extending to the left-hand extremity in a lower lean-to roofed projection set back to the right-hand side. Walls, roofing, rainwater goods and windows are similar to the main block. Modern stained ledged timber doors serve the basement and ground floor above. Two modern steel fire escape stairs rise to the ground floor of the central rear return, supported on a cylindrical steel corner post, with a modern tiled balcony at the right-hand rear projection. The right-hand rear projection contains modern glazed and panelled double doors in stained timber at balcony level, with a modern flush timber door to the basement. The rear yard is surfaced in cement screed with wet dashed boundary walls to each side and rear. A pair of steel framed corrugated iron gates stands in the rear gateway. A modern timber boarded outbuilding stands in the yard.

The left-hand side of the rear return features one modern stained timber fixed light window with top-hung side light. To the left of that is a large modern metal extract flue. A modern metal gas pipe runs across the side and rear walls of the rear return.

Character has been reduced by removal of the original bar interior, though original walls survive at ground floor level. The building was renovated in the mid 1990s with an extension to the rear and reorganisation of the bar. Original interior fittings on upper floors are retained. The building is noted in secondary sources as Clarke's Pub in historical records of the Glens of Antrim.