31 High Street, Ballynahinch, Co Down, BT24 8AB

31 High Street, Ballynahinch

A large three storey terrace house of around 1840, situated on the west side of High Street in the centre of Ballynahinch, with an integrated shop front and carriage arch. To the rear is a large single storey return with a flat roof, now used as a terrace.

The front eastern façade is asymmetrical. On the ground floor, the left side contains the house entrance, a recent panelled door with narrow panelled pilaster jambs, entablature and cornice. To the right is a large shop front with a central doorway and flanking windows. The shop front arrangement appears largely original in design, though the door, jambs and window frames are recent replacements dating to around the 1990s. Above the shop front is a PVC internally illuminated signboard with two projecting signs. To the right of the shop front is a segmental headed carriage arch with granite voussoirs and metal sheeted double doors. The first floor contains three evenly spaced sash windows with Georgian panes (six panes over six). The second floor has three similar but smaller sash windows (three panes over six). The front façade is finished in painted lined render.

The rear elevation could not be clearly assessed as it was largely obscured by a high yard wall. At first floor level there is a window with a modern frame to the left, and to the right is a modern door providing access to the terrace on the return roof. At a slightly higher stair landing level on the far right is a semicircular headed window with a Georgian paned sash frame. The second floor has two windows with modern frames. The rear elevation is also in lined render.

The gabled roof is slated with two rendered chimney stacks, the southern stack being shared with the adjacent No. 33. Cast iron and PVC rainwater goods are present.

Historical records show the site was occupied from at least the mid-eighteenth century. Valuation returns from around 1836 to 1838 record a relatively old two storey house with a shop in front on this site, belonging to Samuel Smith. The 1863 valuation map shows the present building, which appears to have been constructed not long after 1838, probably around 1840. The property was owned in 1863 by James Robinson, who is recorded in Slater's Directory for 1856 as a grocer. Since at least the 1970s the shop has operated as a newsagent's and tobacconist's.