"William John's", Hanna’s Close, 87-89 Aughnahoory Road, Kilkeel, Newry, Co. Down, BT34 4HF

"William John's", located at 87-89 Aughnahoory Road, Kilkeel, Newry, is a single-storey, three-bay semi-detached vernacular dwelling built between 1980 and 1999 on the footprint of an earlier building. It faces east-southeast and forms part of an important vernacular grouping, known as a clachan. The roof is finished with a scallop flax thatch, wired at the eaves and featuring large, raised concrete skews to both the gable and party wall. The walls are wet-dashed and whitewashed. A single, whitewashed masonry chimney is positioned on the internal cross wall.

The principal elevation faces into a yard. The entrance is located to the left of the middle bay, accessed via a painted t+g half door approached by a granite sett pathway, which is lit by a bulkhead light. To the left of the entrance are two windows: a 2/2 sliding sash, and a narrow 1/1 sash. To the right of the entrance are a 6/6 sliding sash and a 2/2 sliding sash. All windows have exposed boxes and granite cills. The left gable functions as a party wall and shares a boundary with an adjoining building. The rear elevation has a 1/1 and 2/2 sliding sash at the left of the left bay, and two 2/2 sashes to the right bay, of varying sizes. A gas regulator and flue are also present on this elevation. The right gable is blank and includes large corner foundation boulders.

The property occupies a prominent site overlooking the Kilkeel River and is bounded by dry boulder granite walls, some original, some rebuilt, and others newly constructed. A few perimeter trees contribute to the site’s character. Access is via carriageways paved with quarry dust and edged with granite kerbstones, and walkways finished with granite setts. The remaining open space is grassed, with small flower beds. A number of gates are present; some are old, while the vehicular entrances are marked by newly made gates designed to a traditional style. As part of a refurbishment project, each house features a specially designed cast metal plaque.

A clachan was depicted on the 1834 Ordnance Survey 6-inch map and subsequent editions.