2-12 Belfast Road, Ballynahinch, Co Down, BT24 8DZ

A plain two-storey terraced row of six properties built between circa 1880 and 1900, standing on the west side of Belfast Road, north of Ballynahinch town centre, with the front façade facing east.

The terrace comprises three distinct phases of development. Numbers 2 to 6 were probably built as a connected terrace, while numbers 8 to 10 are two smaller single-fronted dwellings of similar style but possibly built slightly later. Number 12, at the north end, is a notably grander double-fronted house, possibly originally built as a detached property.

All buildings feature rendered façades with segmental arched openings. Number 2 comprises two properties—a house and shop. The house entrance is via a modern glazed door in a deep recess to the south gable, with modern windows alongside. The shopfront has a central recessed glazed door flanked by tall shop windows. A segmental-headed window opening with sash frame (2 panes over 2) sits to the left of the shop front, with three similar evenly-spaced windows to the first floor. The front façade has lined render with in-and-out quoins to the south-east corner and a string course between ground and first floors. The gabled slate roof incorporates a long modern flat-roofed dormer at the rear, with two concrete brick chimney stacks (one shared with number 4). A large modern two-storey extension to the rear includes an upper conservatory.

Number 4 is slightly smaller with an asymmetrical front façade. A panelled door with segmental-headed fanlight sits to the left, with two windows to its right and three similar windows to the first floor. The rendered front has quoins to the north edge and simulated voussoirs over openings. A large two-storey gabled return dominates the rear. The slated gabled roof has a Velux window to the rear, and a rendered brick chimney stack is present.

Number 6's front façade follows number 4's style but without string course, voussoirs, or quoins, and with different modern window frames. A large modern flat-roofed extension extends to the rear. The gabled roof appears covered in artificial slate, with a concrete brick chimney stack.

Numbers 8 and 10 are much smaller but stylistically similar. Number 8 has a door to the left on the ground floor and a window to the right, with two further windows to the first floor. All openings have segmental heads with sash frames; the door is a modern glazed model with simple surround. Lined render finishes the front, with a large return currently under construction to the rear. The gabled roof is currently being slated, with a concrete brick chimney stack.

Number 10 mirrors number 8 but is handed oppositely, with a modernised two-storey gabled return. The roof appears covered in artificial slate, and the front doorway lacks a surround.

Number 12 is notably grander than its neighbours. The front façade is largely symmetrical with an almost central four-panelled door topped by a segmental arch-headed plain fanlight, framed with a late Victorian Mannerist surround featuring decorative pilasters with frieze and cornice supporting a segmental arched pediment. To the left and right are segmental arch-headed window openings with modern two-pane PVC windows. The first floor has three equally-spaced windows as before. A projecting string course separates ground and first floors; below, the render finish is rusticated, while above it is lined render. Corners have chamfered and decorative quoins. The north façade is blank. The rear elevation features a central two-storey gabled return with two ground-floor windows. Either side of the return are two windows (one ground floor, one first floor), all modern 2/2 in PVC. The north face of the return has a modern first-floor window; the south face has two. A small front garden, now concreted over, is enclosed with fine decorative cast iron railings and a small gate.

Number 12 was built by a local businessman named McCauley and is likely the oldest property in the grouping. In 1932–33, the McCauleys allowed the house to be used as accommodation for the Missionary Sisters of the Assumption, who had established a convent school in the town (now Assumption Grammar). The property was subsequently given to the local Roman Catholic parish and now serves as a rectory house.