43 Lisburn Street, Hillsborough, County Down, BT26 6AB

43 Lisburn Street is a symmetrical two-storey three-bay end-terrace house built around 1800, located east of Lisburn Street in Hillsborough town centre. The building is rectangular on plan with a two-storey return to the rear.

The exterior retains much of its original character. The pitched natural slate roof is fitted with blue and black angled ridge tiles and has rendered chimneystacks. The walls are finished in painted ruled-and-lined render. Rainwater goods are cast-iron half-round. Windows are timber-framed sashes: tripartite 3/3 lights with horns to the ground floor and 2/2 lights to the first floor, all with projecting masonry sills and margin panes. The principal elevation faces west and contains three openings on each floor. At ground floor centre is a timber door with six raised-and-fielded panels, a transom light with glazing bars and margin panes, and brass door furniture, set into a reveal with smooth rendered moulded surround and accessed by a single stone step with cast-iron boot scrapers. The north elevation is abutted by the adjoining building. The east (rear) elevation is largely concealed from the road, with a two-storey return and rendered chimneystack to its right. The south elevation is blank. The building is set back from the road with a paved pathway to its front. Steel supporting rods connect it to number 41 following the recent demolition of the neighbouring building to the south.

The house first appears on a map dated around 1800 and an illustrated plan of Hillsborough from 1803, both depicting it as an oblong building with a rear return, situated at the northern end of Lisburn Street and occupied at that time by a Mrs Thompson. Lisburn Street, the oldest part of Hillsborough town, experienced significant development between around 1800 and 1830 when many buildings on the northern half of the street were constructed. The street was then known as Great Newport Street in reference to the construction of the Lagan Canal in the late 18th century. No. 43 is therefore likely a remnant of the earlier street, probably built in the mid to late 18th century before this later development phase.

The Townland Valuation map (around 1830) and the first edition Ordnance Survey maps of 1833 show the house with a large return or outbuilding at the rear. Contemporary Townland Valuation records show it was occupied by Mr James Pascoe and valued at £8 8s. By 1861, according to Griffith's Valuation, the property was occupied by Mr John McClure, valued at £10 5s, classified as 1B+ dwelling measuring 9 by 6 yards with three two-storey outbuildings. John McClure died around 1878, after which the house briefly passed to Mr John Wardle, who occupied it until 1883. In 1880 it was purchased from the Marquis of Downshire by Mr George Nelson, who let the house to tenants until 1930. The property changed hands several times until 1891 when Mr Henry Smith took possession and resided there until 1915. The 1901 Census records Smith (49) as an Assistant Linen Factory Manager living at No. 43 with his wife Mary Jane (48) and two sons. The Census Building Return of that year describes it as a first-class private dwelling with 11 rooms and no out offices, though the 1911 Census recorded a fowl house and store as the sole outbuildings. The three two-storey outbuildings present in 1861 had been demolished by sometime between 1861 and 1901. By 1915 the house had become vacant, though in 1917 it passed to Mr John McCutcheon who briefly occupied it. Over the following decade it passed through several occupants until 1925 when Mr Thomas J. Walker came into possession, remaining there until 1930.

The building currently lies vacant and has been so for some years. Internally, original detailing has been lost and the floor plan has been altered due to extensive refurbishment. The ground floor windows have also been altered. Though historically interesting as part of the largely intact 18th-century terrace on the approach to Hillsborough town centre, it contributes to the historic character of the street. It is currently recorded only and is situated within a conservation area. The property is planned for conversion into apartments.