150 Comber Road, Hillsborough, County Down, BT26 6NA

150 Comber Road, Hillsborough, is a detached, symmetrical three-bay one and a half-storey rendered house built around 1890. Originally constructed as a school-master's residence, the building occupies an elevated site to the south of Comber Road, accessed via Cabra Road south of Legacurry, and faces north across a sloping front lawn onto the road.

The house is rectangular on plan with a pitched natural slate roof featuring roll-moulded black clay ridge tiles and a pair of rendered chimneystacks with terracotta pots. The roof was renewed around 2003. Plastic rainwater goods run to a plastic box fascia. The walls are finished in ruled and lined render with rusticated render quoins and a projecting render plinth course.

The front elevation displays three symmetrical bays with paired square-headed window openings fitted with painted masonry sills and stop-chamfered surrounds. Hood mouldings crown the windows, which contain horizontally-glazed 2/2 timber sash windows with cylinder glass. A central square-headed door opening, detailed to match the windows, features a replacement hardwood panelled door with Art Nouveau brass door furniture and a rectangular overlight. A concrete step with an embedded iron bootscraper leads to the entrance.

The east and west gables each contain a pair of round-headed window openings at the upper level, now fitted with replacement timber casement windows. The rear elevation is more modest, with simple square-headed window openings containing replacement timber casement windows and a central square-headed door opening with a replacement hardwood sheeted door that opens into a small rear yard.

The building retains much of its original character internally and externally, though replacement of the roof and windows has affected its proportions and visual impact. The setting comprises an elevated site with wrought-iron pedestrian gates on pairs of rock-faced concrete piers. Access is also provided via Cabra Road to a small gravel parking area, and the property is enclosed at the rear by concrete walls.

The cottage was constructed in 1894-95 by the Trustees of Legacurry Presbyterian Church as a residence for the teacher of the local National School, which was situated at the rear of the church at the centre of the village. The building replaced an earlier dwelling and small quarry that occupied the site. It was built at a cost of £245 following financial difficulties that delayed the project until 1890, when the church purchased a one-acre lease of land from John Ball at £50. The builder was Mr. McVernon and the architect who obtained the tender was Mr. Hunter. The first occupant was James McCloy, the local National School teacher. The property continued to be owned by Legacurry Church throughout its history. In 1982, additional land surrounding the cottage was sold by the church to fund construction of a new Church Hall. The current tenant has occupied the house since 1943.