Lifeboat Shed, Portpatrick Harbour

The Lifeboat Shed at Portpatrick Harbour is a significant structure built between 1820 and 1836 by John Rennie, with further developments by Mr. Hannay in 1865. The harbour itself is designed in a U-shape, featuring a South pier constructed in 1820 and remnants of the original pier from 1774 by John Smeaton. There is also a natural skerry opposite the harbour with the remains of an unfinished North pier, and the inner basin was improved between 1857 and 1863 under engineer Harray.

The outer harbour is U-shaped and built from Welsh limestone. The inner harbour has a rectangular plan situated behind the stub of Rennie's unfinished North pier and is constructed of ashlar. The lifeboat house is a rectangular-plan building made of whinstone, accompanied by a whinstone warehouse and a painted boat shed. A mid-20th century lifting crane is still in use at the site.

The lifeboat shed itself is a rectangular-plan structure made of whinstone with brick dressings and features a grey slate roof. The warehouse is also rectangular in plan, constructed from whinstone with brick dressings and a grey slate roof.

The South pier is straight and has a stone bollard at the eastern end and a similar bollard, largely encased in concrete, at the western end. There are ruinous remains of the original 1774 pier located to the north of the lighthouse, which is made of Welsh limestone. The lighthouse, built in 1896, is a round brick structure with a deep plinth, steps leading to the entrance, and railings surrounding the light.

Additionally, there is a lightkeeper's cottage and the Old Lighthouse Pottery, which is made of whinstone with substantial additions to the original building. It features an exterior stair and 12-pane replacement timber windows, along with a grey slate roof. The Lighthouse Cottage is painted whinstone and also has a grey slate roof.