5 Coastguard Terrace, The Harbour, Kilkeel, Newry, Co Down, BT34 4AU

5 Coastguard Terrace is one of five two-storey houses with attics, arranged in a terrace overlooking Kilkeel Harbour with clear views out to sea. This building is the left house in a group of four nearly identical properties. It was built to specifications drawn up by the Irish Commissioners of Public Works in 1901, with work commencing around 1902 and the buildings occupied by 1904. The terrace replaced an earlier coastguard station at Leestone Point.

The architecture represents a significant departure from the plain, small-scale 19th-century coastguard houses found elsewhere in the Mourne area, and marks the transition from the fortified barracks of the 1800s to more domestic 20th-century structures. This makes it unusual in a provincial context.

The building's principal elevation faces south-east and features prominent decorative brickwork that sets it apart. The solid red brickwork is enlivened by yellow and black brick banding, particularly around the chimneys and window heads. The pitched natural slate roof has a wide leaded ridge, plain bargeboards, and boxed eaves with half-round metal rainwater goods. Two skylights pierce the rear pitch. A square-sectioned chimney rises from the front eaves at the left, embellished with bands of yellow, black, and yellow brick around its middle and corbelled top. A second, lower chimney of similar design rises to the roof apex.

The principal elevation is built in brick on a painted, smooth-rendered, chamfered base. A crow-stepped yellow brick quoin marks the left edge. Yellow brick courses run across the façade at cill level on the ground and first floors. A three-course band of yellow, black, and yellow brick—matching the chimney pattern—runs near the tops of both floors' windows and rises above their heads, all of which have black brick ornamental keystones. This variegated brickwork continues across the terrace facades.

The main entrance, positioned to the right, comprises a nine-panelled door with the top six panels glazed and a plain transom above. To its left is an opening containing a pair of 4/1 sliding sashes. All windows are painted timber with shallow segmental heads and stooled granite cills. The first floor centre has an identical pair of 4/1 sashes, diminished in height. A roof dormer contains a pair of 1/1 sashes to the front with painted blank cheeks.

The left gable is embellished with the same variegated brick string courses that run from front to rear. Above these runs a large circular course of yellow brick with black bricks at the four cardinal points, from which horizontal bands of yellow, black, and yellow brick extend. A crow-stepped yellow brick quoin also marks the left corner.

The rear elevation has ogee metal gutters and is abutted at the left by a two-storey return, one half of which belongs to No. 4. The exposed section of the main block is of brick with a three-course band of yellow, black, and yellow brick across the upper floor window and a course of yellow brick at first floor cill level. It contains a pair of 4/1 sashes at ground floor and a 6/3 sash at first floor, both to the right. The return has a pitched natural slate roof tied into the rear slope of the main roof, plain eaves boards, and square metal gutters. Walls are red brick with matching embellishment. Its end gable facing north-west has a flat-headed opening containing a five-panelled painted timber door with the top panel glazed and a plain transom. A small circular electric light is affixed below the opening's head. The right cheek facing the yard has two small 2/2 sashes at ground floor, a single 2/2 sash at first floor, and various cast-iron downpipes. The right gable forms the party wall with the adjoining house (No. 4).

The ground to front and side is gravelled. At the rear stands a small flat-roofed shed, shared with No. 4. A boathouse was erected at the harbour at the same time as this terrace.