2 Ferry Street

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Much altered two and a half storey terrace shop with apartments, set on the top of the slope at the north end of Ferry Street, next to rock out crop. In origin this property may be partly pre 1834 but successive 20th century renovations have given it a sharp, almost newly-built appearance.

The front (W) façade is asymmetrical. To the right of centre is a large ‘house’ door (now leading into middle of shop), with timber panel and glazed door leaded fanlight and sidelights all set in recess with bracketed cornice over. To the left of this is a large timber four pane window (looking into shop). To the left again is a timber panel door with two steps, leading to narrow laneway, which leads to the rear. Recent, traditional style timber shop front to left of ‘house’ door, with recessed timber panel and glazed door, panelled stall riser, four light window, painted shop sign and cornice on decorative brackets.

To the first floor are seven windows with modern frames. Recently added, traditional projecting shop sign between 6th and 7th windows.

The front facade is finished with a ‘Tyrolean’ render. Fibre cement slate pitched roof with three gabled ‘half dormers’ with segmental arch window openings, with frames similar to first floor only slightly smaller. Cast iron gutters and down spouts with gutter course between first floor windows and ‘half dormers’. Two recent concrete brick chimney stacks with uniform pots. Rear has flat roofed extension with various timber windows with flat roofed dormers and a Velux window to main roof. Outside staircase to attic floor at rear.

Historical information

A building is shown on this site on Patrick O'Hare's map of 1799, in possession of a William Phillips. On the valuation map of c.1835-38 two, two storey properties are recorded on the site, which appear to have been in the hands of an Eliza Gowan and a James Ringland junior. One of the buildings is stated to have incorporated the town post office at this stage.

The valuation records of 1861 also indicate the presence of two properties, then in the hands of the aforementioned James Ringland and a Charlotte Jobling, but by this stage (and some time prior to 1846), the post office had moved to new premises elsewhere in Ferry Street. In c.1900 both of these formerly separate properties were amalgamated, and (according to the present owner) the attic floor with the half dormers added.

In the mid 20th century a Mrs. Baxter ran a ‘temperance hotel’ in the house. Between the mid 1970s and 1991 this building witnessed continuing alterations, particularly to the ground floor, with one room converted firstly to a garage and then to an antique shop, which currently takes up almost all of this level. Part of the recent flat roofed extension to the rear is now used as a clock repair shop.

References- Primary sources
1 Walter Harris, 'The Ancient and Present State of the County of Down' (Dublin 1744), p. 44. [ Harris describes Portaferry as ‘a market town, but irregularly built, and few other than thatched houses in it’.]
2 'Taylor's and Skinner's Maps of the roads of Ireland' (Dublin 1777)
3 PRONI D.552/B/3/3/1 Savage/Nugent Papers: ‘A Plan or Map of the Town of Portaferry’ by Patrick O’Hare, 1799 [The
Savage/Nugent Papers contain many documents relating to Portaferry and the surrounding area]
4 Linen Hall Library ‘Pigot & Co.’s Dublin and Hibernian Provincial Directory’ (Manchester 1824)
5 'Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland Vol.7: Parishes of County Down II', ed. Angelique Day and Patrick McWilliams (QUB 1991)
6 PRONI OS/6/3/32/1 OS maps, 1st ed., 1834, Down sheet 32
7 PRONI VAL/1B/37 1st valuation, Ballyphilip, c.1835-38
8 PRONI VAL/1D/3/4 Valuation town plan of Portaferry, c.1838
9 Linen Hall Library ‘Slater’s National Commercial Directory of Ireland’ (Manchester 1846), p.520-23
10 PRONI and Linen Hall Library ‘Belfast and Province of Ulster Directory’ Vols.1-21, 1852-1900, (Belfast, Henderson [1852-65], Belfast News-Letter [1865- ])
11 Linen Hall Library ‘Slater’s Royal National Commercial Directory of Ireland’ (Manchester 1856), p.592-95
12 PRONI OS/8/23/1- OS town plan of Portaferry, 1859
13 PRONI Second ('Griffith's') valuation, 1863 [In print.]
14 PRONI VAL/12E/112/1- Valuation maps of Portaferry, c.1863, with revisions of 1902
15 Linen Hall Library ‘Slater’s Royal National Commercial Directory of Ireland’ (Manchester 1870), pp.341-43
16 PRONI OS/8/23/2 OS town plan of Portaferry, 1874
17 George Henry Bassett ‘County Down Guide and Directory’ (Dublin 1886)
18 PRONI OS/8/23/3 OS town plan of Portaferry, 1900
19 PRONI VAL/12E/112/2- Valuation maps of Portaferry, 1902, with revisions of 1935

Secondary sources
1 G. Philip Bell, C.E.B. Brett, Sir Robert Matthew, 'Ulster Architectural Heritage Survey: Portaferry & Strangford'
(Belfast UAHS 1969)
2 PRONI Portaferry: Sources for Local History (PRONI ?1970s)
3 Sr. Mary Mercy (nee Isobel Cummings), "Memories of Portaferry in the early years of this century" in 'Journal of the Upper Ards
Historical Society, No.10' (1986), pp. 21-24
4 Jack Orr, "The Postal Service in Portaferry" in 'Journal of the Upper Ards Historical Society No. 11' (1987), pp. 2-4
5 David Dunlop, "Rock Angus- No.2 Ferry Street" in 'Journal of the Upper Ards Historical Society, No.15' (1991), pp. 12-13
6 R. Oram, "The Buildings of Portaferry" in 'Journal of the Upper Ards Historical Society' No.16 (1992)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Much altered two and a half storey terrace shop with apartments, which may be partly pre 1834 in origin, but to which successive 20th century renovations have detracted from its character.