Riverside, 38 Bridge St., Rostrevor, Co.Down

Riverside is a substantial dwelling house located on Bridge Street in Rostrevor, County Down. The building dates to the period between 1835 and 1839, based on valuation records and a 957-year lease dated 1839. It was likely built by Mrs Margaret Boyle, a member of the local gentry listed in Slater's 1846 Directory, who may also have been responsible for constructing the nearby Glynn-na-shee.

The house is a two-storey brick structure characteristic of the 1830s, originally featuring Georgian-paned window frames as evidenced in a stereoscopic photograph from around 1870. The building presents large rooms with south-facing windows commanding views over the river, glen, mountains and sea.

By 1901, when recorded in the census, Riverside was described as a first-class dwelling with 13 rooms in use. The 1955 sale notice describes it as "most commodious and well-built", comprising 3 reception rooms, 7 bedrooms, kitchen with scullery, and bathroom. The property included a cement and paved yard with built-in meat safe, two very large out-offices and toilet facilities. The building was substantially enlarged at some point before 1838, with an upper floor section that originally spanned over the neighbouring property to the northwest.

The property remained in residential use throughout the 19th and 20th centuries under various tenants, including William Lyons from 1903. It was occupied by William G. Farrell in 1958 and David Reid in 1966. The building was advertised for sale in 1955, 1967 and 1969, and was recorded as vacant from at least 1970 to 1972.

Riverside stands within Rostrevor's conservation area on Bridge Street, which historically served as a principal thoroughfare connecting Kilkeel with Rathfriland and Newry. Originally known as Post Office Street in the 1830s, the street was renamed Old Post Office Street by 1861 and finally Bridge Street around 1894.