17 Cross Road, Ballygorian More, Rathfriland, Newry, Co Down, BT34 5TE

This is a refurbished, single-story, three-bay house situated on the south side of Cross Road in Ballygorian More, Rathfriland, Co Down. Dating from approximately 1840 to 1859, the building retains much of its historic and architectural character.

The house has a pitched natural slate roof with concrete skews, and a chimney is located on each gable, with an additional chimney positioned between the central and right bays. All chimneys are dashed and coped, each topped with four pots. Half-round metal rainwater goods with a downpipe are present on the right side of the façade. The walls are a painted cement dash over rubble stone, with a smooth, unpainted basecourse. Stepped stucco quoins are visible on the front elevation and right gable. The front elevation faces northeast.

The main entrance, in the central bay, which is narrower than the flanking bays, features three granite steps leading to a four-panelled (raised and fielded) door with a beaded muntin and two brass knobs. This is flanked by three-paned sidelights framed by panelled timber pilasters that support a timber frieze above the door, topped by a semi-elliptical radial fanlight. The remaining bays each have two large 1/1 sliding sash windows with painted granite cills. The left gable was not inspected, while the right gable features a large 1/1 sliding sash window with a painted granite cill, set to the right. The rear elevation, partially inspected, returns to the left, with a roof matching the main block and a similar chimney on the gable end. It has two 1/1 sliding sash windows on its left cheek.

The front garden includes a gravel path, lawn, and flowerbeds, enclosed by a dashed wall. The boundary to the road is defined by a pair of plain dashed gateposts with pyramidal caps. These support a pair of 19th-century wrought iron gates with cast details and dog bars. A large, modern farmyard lies to the rear and contains no features of architectural interest.

Historical records, including Ordnance Survey maps from 1834 and 1860, and valuation books, indicate the house’s evolution from a small vernacular building to a more substantial complex between the 1830s and 1860s. A historical survey slide from 1970 shows the house with an additional gabled outbuilding, which has since been removed. The listing encompasses both the house and its gates.