Downe Hospital (main block), 9a Pound Lane, Downpatrick, Co Down, BT30 6JA

Downe Hospital (main block) is a two and three storey classical style infirmary building dating from 1834, designed by John B. Keane. It now forms part of Downe Hospital and is situated on a commanding rise to the south of Pound Lane, south of Downpatrick town centre. The building has been much extended and rebuilt at the rear during the mid to later 20th century.

In its original form, the building consisted of a long rectangular front wing with three storey and two storey rear returns. These returns appear to have been linked at the south end, enclosing two courtyards. Today the plan has been greatly altered, with the courtyards now covered by a larger rebuilt south-west return and various other 20th century extensions. To the west the building is now linked via a flat roofed single storey section to a modern style brick built block.

The front elevation faces roughly north and is symmetrical. To the centre is a shallow full height bay topped with a gabled pediment. At ground floor level within this bay is a large tripartite window with modern frame, plain lintel and cornice, which was originally the main entrance. The first floor of the bay contains a smaller tripartite window with surround matching the ground floor window but with a pediment over the central light. To the left and right of the bay are three windows to each floor, with hoods on brackets to those at first floor level. At each end of the front elevation is a tall projecting gabled bay rising significantly above eaves level, containing an attic level. To the ground and first floor of each bay are two windows corresponding to those elsewhere on the elevation outside the centre bay. Above the first floor windows the main eaves course continues across the bay and resting on the eaves course is a semicircular recess, originally an attic level eyebrow window opening. A thick moulded course separates ground and first floor levels, with rusticated render beneath and lined render above. The eaves course between the bays features widely spaced dentils. In-out quoins are present throughout.

The east elevation consists of the three storey east return with various modern extensions to the left (south). The façade is symmetrical. To the centre of the ground floor is a doorway with fanlight recess, small sidelights, all contained within a large semicircular arched recess. Directly above at first floor is a tripartite window and at the second floor (attic level) is an eyebrow window with small gable over. This window alone appears to have retained its original sash frame. To either side of the central openings are three windows to each floor. The façade is finished in lined render.

The west elevation presents a complex appearance, dominated by the east façade of the three storey east return, which was rebuilt in a larger form in 1930–32. The two storey façade of the return is plain with seven windows to the first and second floors and four windows to the left on the ground floor. To the centre right on the ground floor the façade is abutted by a modern style single storey extension which links to a modern wing further to the west and contains the main entrance. To the right (south) the return links to a two storey gable section which in turn links to a two and a half to two storey gabled wing running in an east-west direction. This wing may originally have been part of an outbuilding also dating from 1834 but originally longer. The rear of the building comprises a conglomeration of mid to late 20th century extensions, mainly two storey, flat roofed and constructed in concrete brick.

The roof of the original section is completely slated with three rendered chimney stacks to the main front section. Metal rainwater goods are present throughout. Window frames are modern throughout the building except for one surviving sash frame on the east elevation.