189 Ballynahinch Road, Ballykeel Loan Ends, Ballykeel, Dromore, County Down, BT25 1EU

189 Ballynahinch Road is a late 18th century asymmetrical two-storey four-bay farmhouse in a rural setting at the junction of Ballynahinch Road, Hillsborough Road and Dromara Road near Dromara. The building is listed at Grade B2.

The house was constructed around 1770 and renovated circa 1820. It is rectangular on plan with a double-height return and single-storey extension to the rear. The pitched roof is covered in natural slate with replacement brick chimneys. The walling is painted with ruled-and-lined render and features trompe l'oeil rustication to the quoins, an unusual decorative detail. Replacement cast-iron and plastic rainwater goods are in place.

The principal elevation faces east and is asymmetrically arranged across four bays. The original windows are 8/8 timber-framed sliding sash with horns and projecting masonry sills. However, inappropriate uPVC replacement windows and entrance doors have been inserted, particularly affecting the ground and first floor windows to the right and the main entrance door to the right of centre. The south elevation is blank. The west elevation contains a double-height return under a catslide roof with two small original sashes without sills to the right and a single replacement timber-framed window to the left. Original sashes remain on this elevation: 6/6 at each floor to the right and a 2/2 to the first floor left. A single-storey extension abuts the return, with a replacement four-panelled timber door in its left cheek. The north elevation is blank and is abutted to the west by a tall masonry wall connecting to the gable of an outbuilding.

Despite the insertion of uPVC windows and doors, the house retains its essential character and proportions.

The property was formerly used as a posting inn providing horses and supplies for travellers on routes such as between Belfast and Dublin, and subsequently operated as a grocery shop until the mid-20th century. The 1830s Townland Valuation records it as a grocery shop occupied by James Chambers, valued at £11 2s. 11d. including out offices, basement and store. Griffith's Valuation of 1856-64 valued the property at £12 and shows Chambers leasing from the Reverend Edward Smith, Bishop of Down and Connor. The 1901 Census records James Chambers (born circa 1827) working as a farmer and grocer with his wife Margaret and children assisting in the shop. At that time the property consisted of nine inhabited rooms and numerous out offices including stable, cow house, three calf houses, dairy, six piggeries, two fowl houses, boiling house, barn, potato house, shed and store. James Chambers died in February 1905, leaving the house to his son Archibald Chambers (born circa 1876). The 1911 Census no longer records the grocer's shop, describing the property simply as a dwelling with Archibald farming the land. Archibald purchased the farm in 1909 and occupied it until 1923 when Richard Graham took over. Nineteenth-century shop fittings were still present in 1992 when the house was listed, though field research has since been unable to locate evidence of the former shop.

The setting is rural, situated at an important and prominent junction. An enclosed yard to the rear contains a variety of rendered and white-washed rubble stone outbuildings. The rear entrance from Dromara Road is accessed via white-washed rubble stone walls with high gate piers having pointed masonry caps; corrugated sheet metal now covers the original wrought iron gates. The western entrance from Ballynahinch Road has replacement cement-rendered gate piers with pointed caps supporting a replacement farm gate. The outbuildings in the main yard have slate roofs and include original timber doors where preserved; stables and hay-barn to the south feature external steps and original half-doors, while the barn to the north retains an original carriage entrance in its left gable. Original wrought-iron gates lead to a further yard to the west with outbuildings roofed in slate and fitted with corrugated sheet metal doors. A cast iron water pump and well, situated to the north of the rear entrance, are original features of note. The rubble stone and white-washed outbuildings together with this cast iron water pump add significant interest to the late 18th century house.

The listing extends to the house, outbuildings, wrought iron gates and water pump.