38 Victoria Square, Rostrevor, Co.Down

38 Victoria Square is a house within a terrace of dwellings developed in stages between 1882 and 1903 in Rostrevor, County Down. The surrounding Victoria Square comprises three blocks: Glenmore Terrace (numbers 42-44) built in or just before 1882, Victoria Terrace (numbers 34-38) constructed between 1886 and 1887, and Albert Terrace (numbers 14-22) completed between 1898 and 1903. The development was spurred by the construction of the Shore Road in 1877 to accommodate the Warrenpoint and Rostrevor Tramline. Victoria Terrace was developed by David Mahood and James McMurray.

The house at number 38 was first occupied in 1887 by Elizabeth Fawcett, followed by James Wade MD. In the 1901 census, his widow, Elsie Wade, resided at the property with two domestic servants and a guest. The house was recorded as a ‘2nd class’ dwelling. Subsequent occupants included James McCutcheon, Miss McFadden, Dr. J.W. Erskine, and Marian and Francis Erskine. A May 1922 advertisement described the house as having “drawing, dining and morning rooms, bathroom, WC…[and] several large and airy bedrooms,” with a front garden and rear outbuildings.