12-14 The Square

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Relatively plain, two storey terrace block, possibly dating from the early 19th century, originally two dwellings but now containing a dental surgery, shop and apartment, with modern shop fron to No.12. The properties are set on the NW side of the Square.

The front E elevation of the block faces E. The front façade of No.14 (to the S of the end of the block), is symmetrical. To the centre of the ground floor there is a central panelled timber door. Two sash windows with horns, no astragals (one either side of the door) Narrow cement window bands, probably added c.1930. First floor has three sash windows with horns. Eaves course

Nos. 12-13- The front façade of this building may once have matched No.12, but a shop front has been inserted to the ground floor. Left hand panelled door leads to first floor apartment. To the right is a centrally located recent double timber shop doors (leading to separate shops) each with a fanlight. Fixed timber shop windows one to each side of shop door. Surround to shop fronts painted white. To the first floor there are three windows, as No.14.

Nos. 12-14 have a modern house built (which incorporates an existing outhouse) close to the rear. The main rear elevation is much obscured by the new building but has some sash windows either side of the two storey return. No access to the rear of No.14.

The entire front façade of the block is covered in unpainted cement render.

Thr roof of the block is gabled roof with Bangor blue slates to No.14 and fibre cement slates to Nos. 12-13. Two yellow brick chimney stacks . Uneven chimney pots to No. 14, matching chimney pots to Nos. 12-13.

Historical information

A building/buildings is shown on this site on Patirck O'Hare's map of 1799, then in possession of a James Savage. The valuation returns of 1835-38 tell us that there were two, two storey dwelling in place at that stage (then occupied by a William Echlin and David Lawson), whose dimensions appear very similar to both No.14 and Nos.12-13. Both dwellings are recorded as being 'reasonably old' at that date, perhaps dating from c.1800. These would appear to correspond to the present buildings, however, as always, it is difficult to be certain about this.

The 1863 valuation returns list a John Lawson as the occupant of the present Nos.12-13 (then one property), with a John Bailie resident in what is now No.14.

The shop front to No.12 looks like a relatively recent insertion, perhaps dating from the 1960s.

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI D.552/B/3/3/1 Savage/Nugent Papers ‘A Plan or Map of the Town of Portaferry’ by Patrick O’Hare, 1799
2 PRONI OS/6/3/32/1 OS maps, 1st ed., 1834, Down sheet 32
3 PRONI VAL/1B/37 1st valuation, Ballyphilip, c.1835-38
4 PRONI VAL/1D/3/4 Valuation town plan of Portaferry, c.1838
5 Linen Hall Library ‘Slater’s National Commercial Directory of Ireland’ (Manchester 1846), p.520-23
6 PRONI and Linen Hall Library ‘Belfast and Province of Ulster Directory’ Vols.1-21, 1852-1900, (Belfast, Henderson [1852-65], Belfast News-Letter [1865- ])
7 Linen Hall Library ‘Slater’s Royal National Commercial Directory of Ireland’ (Manchester 1856), p.592-95
8 PRONI OS/8/23/1- OS town plan of Portaferry, 1859
9 PRONI Second ('Griffith's') valuation, 1863 [in print]
10 PRONI VAL/12E/112/1- Valuation maps of Portaferry, c.1863, with revisions of 1902
11 Linen Hall Library ‘Slater’s Royal National Commercial Directory of Ireland’ (Manchester 1870), pp.341-43
12 PRONI OS/8/23/2 OS town plan of Portaferry, 1874
13 George Henry Bassett ‘County Down Guide and Directory’ (Dublin 1886)
14 PRONI OS/8/23/3 OS town plan of Portaferry, 1900
15 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)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Relatively plain and much altered, two storey terrace block, possibly dating from the early 19th century, originally two dwellings but now containing a dental surgery, shop and apartment.