114-116 Irish Street, Downpatrick, Co Down, BT30 6BT

A grand three-storey double-fronted Georgian terrace townhouse of 1778 with stucco façade and classical detailing, adjoined by a neighbouring two-storey rubble-fronted addition of circa 1840 with a carriage entrance. The property stands at the south end of the east side of Irish Street, with the front elevation facing west.

No. 114

The formal but asymmetrical façade of the original townhouse occupies the right and centre of the front elevation. A single flight of steps with decorative railings rises to the almost-central main entrance at high ground-floor level. The entrance features a classical doorcase comprising a flat portico supported on two projecting fluted Doric columns with two corresponding pilasters, and a distinctive eight-panel timber door. Above the door is a segmental arch-headed fanlight with chrysanthemum tracery. To the left of the entrance are two closely spaced sash windows with Georgian panes (6/6), and to the right are two similar but slightly more widely spaced windows. Below the windows on the right are two 6/6 basement windows opening onto a basement well area, which has a decorative guard rail at pavement level matching the stair handrail.

At first-floor level, a projecting moulded string course separates the storeys. Five windows at this level are sash windows (6/6), slightly shorter than those below, with moulded dressings and blocking course and cornice above. The sills are connected by a plain projecting string course. At second-floor level are five shorter sash windows (3/3) with moulded dressings, their sills similarly connected by a projecting string course. The gutter rests on an eaves course.

The basement is finished with plain render with a bevel to create a plinth effect. The ground floor render is rusticated, while the first and second floors are finished in lined render. The façade is painted.

To the rear (east façade), there is a wide but relatively shallow three-storey hipped-roof return. To the right of this is a further single-storey gabled return. The single-storey return has a panelled door to the left and a tripartite sash window (4/4, 4/4, 4/4) to the right. Its south face has a 6/6 sash window.

To the left of the single-storey return is a semicircular arch-headed sash window (10/6) on the three-storey return. At first floor is a 6/6 sash window, and at second floor another 6/6 window. To the south face of this return is a door opening with a sheeted door.

To the ground floor of the rear façade of the main building, to the left of the three-storey return, is a 6/6 sash window. At first floor are an 8/8 window to the left and a small 6/6 window to the right. At second-floor level is a small 3/3 window to the left.

The exposed north face of the three-storey return, overlooking the rear yard to the adjoining property, is blank except for a 6/6 window at first-floor level. The north face merges with the north gable of the main building, which is mostly obscured by No. 112. To the left at first and second floors are 6/6 windows. The south gable is largely obscured by No. 116, with a small fixed-light window at second floor. The lower portion of the right-hand edge of this gable is bevelled.

No. 116

The front façade of No. 116 is set back slightly from No. 114 and has a much more informal appearance. It is rubble-finished with brick dressings to the openings. At the far right of the ground floor is a decorative classical doorway with three-quarter Tuscan pilasters either side of a six-panel door, supporting a projecting but narrow canopy. The semicircular fanlight has radial tracery.

To the left is a large flat-headed coach arch with an elliptical-headed relieving arch over. At ground floor, to the left of the coach arch, are two 6/6 sash windows set at the same ground-floor level as No. 114 but at a higher level than the doorway. At first floor are four similar windows. Two similar windows are set at basement level to the left of the coach arch. A wrought iron handrail guards the drop into the basement well.

To the rear (east façade), a two-storey gabled return stands on the left side. Its east gable is blank, while the north face has a timber door to the left at ground floor and a small window with modern frame to the right. To the right of this (within the coach arch) is another timber sheeted door. At first floor of the north face are two 6/6 sash windows set to the left of centre. The right side of this face splays slightly, narrowing the overall width of the return.

To the left of the ground floor of the rear façade of the main building (No. 116) is a flat-headed coach arch. To the right of this is a small modern two-pane window. At the far right is a panelled door at the head of a short flight of steps. To the left of the steps is a short flight leading down to basement level, where there is another door. The small basement yard has a wrought iron guardrail matching the stair handrail.

At first floor are three 6/6 sash windows, with that to the left slightly larger.

General features

The rear elevation of the entire building (Nos. 114 and 116) is finished in plain unpainted render. All sections of roof are slated. There are four large rendered chimney stacks—two serving the original section (No. 114) and two serving the addition (No. 116). The rainwater goods appear to be mainly cast iron.