Annahilt Almshouses, 236-240 Ballynahinch Road, Annahilt, Hillsborough, Co. Down, BT26 6BP

Annahilt Almshouses are detached symmetrical multi-bay single-storey former almshouses on the west side of Ballynahinch Road, built around 1835. Originally comprising nine units, the building was restored by Hearth Housing Association in 1987 and converted into three dwellings.

The almshouses are constructed of lime-washed rendered walling and sit below road level at the junction of Ballynahinch and Magheraconluce Roads. They feature a central gable with a blank rectangular panel to the pediment and are rectangular on plan with a central return. The hipped natural slate roof carries clay ridge tiles and lead ridges to the hips, with cement coping to the front gable. Four rendered chimneystacks with terracotta pots project from the roof. Cast-iron guttering on iron brackets runs along the rendered eaves course, with cast-iron downpipes.

The symmetrical east-facing front elevation has a central single-bay breakfront gable flanked by a pair of round-headed door openings, extending to either side by four windows. The south side elevation contains a single bay with a blind window panel. The rear west elevation is symmetrical with a central single-bay gabled projection featuring window openings to either side and a flanking door opening, extending to either side by four windows and a door. The north side elevation has a single window opening. Square-headed window openings feature painted stone sills and original bipartite latticed iron casement windows. Vertically-sheeted timber doors include original round-headed doors to the front (no longer in use) and replacement square-headed doors to the rear.

During restoration in 1987, evidence of an old external wall was uncovered, suggesting that the portion at numbers 236-240 was added to an earlier part closest to the road.

The building is set on a north-south axis with a railed front area and rear walled gardens. A simple iron railing encloses the front area and north and south side areas to the road. An original rubblestone wall encloses three rear gardens, with two lean-to garden structures and wrought-iron gates giving access to each. The gates open onto a communal bitumac parking area accessed from Magheraconluce Road to the north.

The almshouses first appear uncaptioned on the 1859 Ordnance Survey map. Lewis's Topographical Survey, as cited by Brett, records that Robert Sharland Esquire, a native of Barnstaple, Devon, who died on 6 May 1833, bequeathed £2,000 to £3,000 in trust to the clergy of the parish and the proprietor of one or two townlands for the erection of ten almshouses, with construction commencing in spring 1835. Griffith's Valuation of 1862 records the building as 'Widows Alms House', valued at £6 10s. The Ordnance Survey maps of 1902-03 and 1919-20, now captioned 'Almshouses', show no apparent change to the footprint, supported by Annual Revisions 1866-1929, which record no change to valuation. The careful 1987 restoration is evident in the retention of external fabric including natural slate to the roof, white-washed walls, original and good replacement sheeted timber doors, and original latticed iron windows. While interiors were largely reconfigured to provide modern accommodation, the retention of original vertically-sheeted doors adds an authentic touch to the composition.