1-3 The Vennel, Glenarm, Ballymena, Co Antrim, BT44 0AN

A pair of plain two-storey rendered urban vernacular terrace houses of part circa 1835-40 and part post-1859 construction, recently converted to a single property. The building stands on the south side of The Vennel at the junction with Altmore Street.

The front elevation presents two 'facets' following the curve of the road, creating an asymmetrical composition facing roughly north. At ground floor level are two doors — the eastern door is now permanently closed, whilst the other serves as the main entrance. Both are modern panelled half-glazed doors. To either side of these doors are 6/6 sash windows. The first floor has three similar 6/6 sash windows. The elevation is gabled, with one additional 6/6 sash window to the left at both ground and first floor levels. Due to the L-shaped plan of the terrace, the rear elevation — situated in the crux of the L — is very short, containing a modern door to the left of the ground floor and a modern window at first floor level.

The building is finished in roughcast render with a smooth recessed cement rendered plinth to the north front. The pitched roof is covered with natural slate and carries a plain rendered chimney stack to the right of the ridge. Cast iron rainwater goods serve the front elevation, with PVC goods at the rear. The yard is enclosed by a high stone wall.

Historically, The Vennel (the name deriving from archaic Scots for 'a narrow winding lane') was the principal route from Larne into Glenarm prior to the construction of the Coast Road in the 1830s. Early leases from 1743 onwards refer to it as the 'Stinking Vennel', reflecting its poor reputation and steep topography. John O'Hara's map of 1779 shows densely packed dwellings along both sides of the street. Much of this early housing was subsequently replaced. The 1832 Ordnance Survey map shows this site as vacant. The western portion of the present property (formerly number 1) corresponds to a house of identical dimensions recorded as being in 'wretched order' in the 1859 valuation as belonging to Patrick and Charles Reavey. Number 3 was built on a yard site belonging to number 1 sometime after 1859, possibly in the mid to late 1860s. The two houses remained separate properties until their recent conversion to a single unit, circa mid-1990s.

The building's period frontage and presence at a prominent corner location, where The Vennel turns into Altmore Street, contributes significantly to the streetscape. Its group value with other period properties justifies its retention on the list.