1-3 Market Street and 7 Irish Street, Downpatrick, Co Down, BT30 6LP

Relatively large three storey corner block built in 1913-14, located at the corner of Irish Street and Market Street in the centre of Downpatrick town. It comprises shops and offices in red brick with large gables, dentilled overhanging eaves and an oriel window set on a bevelled corner.

The longer south-east elevation faces Market Street and is asymmetrical. To the right of centre is a tall recessed doorway with a large panelled timber door and large segmental headed fanlight, which leads to the apartment at no.1 Market Street. To the left of this doorway is a large shop front at no.3 Market Street, occupied by a bookmaker. This shop front is symmetrical with a central doorway flanked by large plate glass windows and painted brick piers. Above is a signboard linked to a 'course' running around the rest of the block. The shop front has been modernised in recent years, with the central recessed doorway fitted with a roller shutter and the signboard faced in plastic. To the right of the office doorway is another shop front at no.7 Irish Street, set on the corner with a plate glass window facing Market Street, a deeply recessed doorway set on the east-facing bevelled corner, and a glazed window (now boarded over) facing Irish Street. The ensemble has painted brick piers; the doorway has a recent glazed door and recent timber signboards have been placed over each of the three openings below the level of the original signboard course. To the first floor of the south-east elevation are six unevenly grouped segmental headed window openings with sash frames. The second floor contains two groups of two similar but slightly shorter windows, each group set partly within a large gable with dentilled overhang. The bevelled corner of the block is finished in dry dash. To the first floor is a relatively narrow three-sided oriel window with mullioned and transomed frame and flat roof. The second floor level at this corner is blank.

The short north-east elevation has a single window to both upper floors, similar to those on the south-east. The second floor window is partly set within a gable. The exposed second floor section of the south-west gable is rendered and possesses no openings. The north-west elevation was largely obscured from view during inspection; the upper floors in red brick possess some windows similar to those on the south-east and north-east. Map evidence suggests the ground floor level at no.3 Market Street has been extended. The gabled roof is slated with a pronounced overhang and dentils. To the north-west, towards the gable of no.5 Irish Street, stands a tall red brick chimneystack with a 'cornice' course and five uniform pots. Cast iron rainwater goods are present.

The building was constructed in 1913-14 by John Denvir and originally contained shops, warerooms and workrooms. It replaced a house of probable mid-18th century origin. The building has continuously contained shops and offices since 1914, latterly housing clothing businesses and an accountant's office. A bookmaker's shop now occupies no.3 Market Street, whilst the rest of the block is currently vacant.

The building is situated within a conservation area and is recorded in the heritage register.