52 Killyleagh Street, Crossgar, Co Down, BT30 9QD

This is a low, two-storey terrace house with a former shop, likely dating to around the 1850s. It is situated on the north side of Killyleagh Street in the small town of Crossgar, facing south. The front facade is asymmetrical. The entrance is marked by a partly glazed modern door, to the left of which is a double-sash window with vertical astragals. To the right of the doorway is a former shop window featuring six lights with segmental heads over the upper three. A timber-sheeted door sits to the immediate right of the shop window, separated by a narrow timber pier. Four evenly spaced windows with modern frames are located on the first floor. The eastern gable is largely blank, except for a small first-floor window with a modern frame. The rear facade is partially obscured, but visible portions include a single-storey lean-to on the left side and a two-storey, brick-built gabled return with modern window frames, artificial slate roofing, and PVC rainwater goods. The front facade and gable are rendered and painted, while the roof is covered in natural slate (at least to the front). A rendered parapet is present on the east side, along with two rendered chimney stacks and metal rainwater goods.

Historical records suggest that, around 1835, many buildings along the north side of Killyleagh Street, including those near this property, were exempt from rates, indicating they were likely modest dwellings. A town plan from 1859 confirms the presence of this block, though without rear extensions. The style of the building suggests a construction date of around 1840 to 1850, though definitive evidence is lacking. The shop front’s style is similar to that of buildings across the street dating to 1865, though its originality is uncertain. The brick-built return likely dates from the early to mid-20th century and is not original. The building was owned by Richard Wilson in 1863.