5 Downshire Place, Newry, Co Down, BT34 1DZ

5 Downshire Place, Newry

This is the right-hand house of a symmetrical terrace of four two-storey houses (with semi-basement and attic) on the east side of Downshire Road. It dates to the 1820s or early 1830s, erected as part of the development of Downshire Road by the Marquis of Downshire. The terrace appears to have been conceived as part of a longer scheme that was never completed. It is a fine example of early 19th-century Georgian townhouse architecture in virtually original condition, demonstrating an early instance of town planning by an improving landlord.

The building is three bays wide at front and side elevation. The hipped natural slate roof is L-shaped and gabled to join with the adjacent property (no. 7), with two skylights to the rear. Single cement-rendered chimneys with projecting caps rise from either end of the front ridge and a third from the wall head of the rear return. Rainwater goods are semicircular metal. The facade wall is painted lined render with a projecting eaves course, also rendered. A raised plaque at first floor right reads "Downshire Place" in raised capitals.

The principal entrance is at ground floor centre, accessed by two granite steps rising to a granite-paved platform. Original palmette-headed cast iron railings flank the sides of the steps and platform, with metal boot scrapers inset to left and right on the platform. The replacement door is painted timber with beaded muntin and four bolection-moulded panels. The door frame is reeded timber and is flanked by two three-quarter attached granite Tuscan columns supporting a moulded granite entablature. Above this, the original rectangular Greek Revival leaded transom has been replaced with plastic glazing. The entrance opening has one-piece moulded jambs with scrolled consoles at top supporting a moulded granite cornice, with modern electric light over the cornice.

At ground floor, the left and right bays contain single 6/6 sliding sash windows. All windows are without horns and have painted granite cills unless otherwise stated. At basement level, in line with ground floor windows, are single 3/3 sliding sashes. The central basement bay, underneath the entrance platform, has a porch with a modern louvred door to its left cheek. Concrete steps lead down from the foot of the main entrance steps to a passage across the front of the basement.

The first floor contains three equally spaced windows, identical to those on the ground floor but diminished in height. The left gable forms the party wall with the adjacent property.

The right elevation has a painted and line-rendered wall. The ground falls away to the right on this elevation. There are three equally spaced 3/3 sliding sash windows across the basement, with that to the right having a painted concrete cill; its opening was probably originally a door but has been infilled. To the ground and first floors are three 6/6 sliding sash windows; those to the first floor are slightly diminished in height. The ground floor right window opening has been enlarged to house a pair of four-paned timber French windows with a fixed four-pane transom over. These doors lead to a small cantilevered concrete balcony enclosed by plain painted steel railing.

At the rear elevation, the basement is at ground level due to the site's sloping topography. The return section walls are painted lined render; the back wall of the main block is wet-dashed with a projecting eaves course. The latter wall has a modern timber and glass door at basement left, with a 3/3 sliding sash to its right. A modern one-storey conservatory of timber and glass construction with flat felt roof is positioned almost obscuring the ground floor and abutting the right cheek of the return. It is raised over the basement level. On the back wall of the main block, enclosed by the conservatory, is a modern fixed window within an original opening. To its right, also enclosed by the conservatory, is a modern door into the rear kitchen, probably within an enlarged window opening. A door on the right cheek of the conservatory leads to metal fire escape stairs to the back garden. To the right of the conservatory is a modern timber casement window with thin concrete cill. Over the conservatory, between ground and first floors at left, is a tall 6/6 sliding sash window. To the first floor right is a similar but smaller window. The gable wall of the return is blank except for a single stained timber louvre door at right on the basement and a small ventilator at ground floor. The right cheek has a door into the conservatory at ground floor right and a 2/2 sliding sash window with horns to the first floor. A metal boiler flue rises up the left side.

The front and side garden is enclosed by a chamfered granite wall which retains stumps of original wrought-iron railings. A broad cement path flanked by rendered brick walls leads from the street to the steps up to the front door. A side entrance from Church Avenue comprises a pair of metal gates, each inset with "ER VII" in decorative scrolled letters.

The building was shown in its present form on the 1834 Ordnance Survey map and was owned by William Leech in 1838. Its architectural interest lies in its style, proportion, ornamentation, and plan form, as well as in the quality and survival of interior details and its group value within the symmetrical terrace. It demonstrates restrained decoration, particularly in the doorcase, and its appearance is enhanced by its grouping within the intact symmetrical terrace. Currently in use as an office.