3 Coastguard Terrace, The Harbour, Kilkeel, Newry, Co Down, BT34 4AU

3 Coastguard Terrace is a Grade B2 listed building, a two-storey house with attic forming part of a prominent five-house terrace overlooking Kilkeel Harbour with clear views to sea. Built between 1902 and 1904 to specifications drawn up by the Irish Commissioners of Public Works in 1901, it replaced an earlier coastguard station at Leestone Point. The building represents a significant shift in design philosophy from the fortified barracks of the 1800s to more domestic structures of the 20th century, and is unusual in its provincial context.

The terrace stands out distinctly from the plainer and smaller-scale 19th-century coastguard houses elsewhere in the Mourne area. This particular building occupies the middle position within a group of four almost identical houses, positioned as part of a two-bay arrangement.

The principal elevation faces south-east and is constructed of solid red brickwork enlivened by decorative yellow and black brick banding. A pitched natural slate roof with wide leaded ridge sits above, with plain bargeboards, boxed eaves, and half-round metal rainwater goods. Two skylights pierce the rear pitch. A square-section chimney rising from the front eaves at the left (shared with No. 4) features embellishment with bands of yellow, black, and yellow brick around its middle and towards its corbelled top. A second, lower similar chimney rises from the roof apex.

The main elevation displays yellow brick courses at cill level on both ground and first floors. A distinctive three-course band of yellow, black, and yellow brick runs across the wall near the top of both floor windows and rises over their heads. All window heads feature black brick ornamental keystones. This variegated brickwork continues across the façade of the entire terrace.

The main entrance to the right comprises a nine-panel timber door with the top six panels glazed, and a plain transom over. To its left sits a pair of 4/1 sliding sashes. All windows are painted timber with shallow segmental heads and stooled granite cills. At first floor centre, an identical but diminished pair of 4/1 windows is positioned. A roof dormer contains a pair of 1/1 sashes to the front with painted blank cheeks. The left and right gables form party walls with the adjoining houses (Nos 4 and 2 respectively).

The rear elevation is partially abutted at its left by a two-storey return, half of which belongs to No. 2. The exposed section of the main block is of red brick with a three-course band of yellow, black, and yellow brick across the upper floor window and a course of yellow brick at first floor cill level. At ground floor right is a pair of 4/1 sashes; at first floor is a 6/3 sash. The return features a pitched natural slate roof tied into the rear slope of the main roof, with plain eaves boards and square metal gutters of red brick with matching embellishment.

The return's end gable, facing north-west, contains a flat-headed opening with a five-panel painted timber door (top panel glazed) and plain transom over. A small circular electric light is affixed to the underside of the opening's head. The right cheek facing into the yard has two small 2/2 sashes at ground floor, a single 2/2 sash at first floor, and various cast-iron down pipes.

The front is gravelled. At the rear stands a small flat-roofed shed shared with No. 2. A boathouse was erected at the harbour at the same time as this terrace.