23-24 The Square

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Tall, three storey end of terrace house, of probable 18th century origin, now with modern shop front to the ground floor. The building is prominently sited on the SE corner of Portaferry town square and has a single storey extension (to S) which runs into Ferry Street. The extension is constructed upon a natural rock out crop and because of this the whole building is referred to locally as ‘The Rock’.

Front W elevation is asymmetrical. To the ground floor left there is a five panel (4 over 1) timber door, with scumble effect. To the right of this is a modern timber shop front. To the first floor there are three sash windows with horns and no astragals. Stone cills and smooth cement surrounds to windows. Box frames of windows may be original. To the second floor are three modern windows, as first floor but reduced in height.

To the S gable is the single storey extension that links the terrace on the east side of The Square to the terrace on the east side of Ferry Street and is constructed on a natural rock out crop. It has a shallow pitched roof. Small PVC window just below roof. The extension used as living room and has an irregular shape.

To the first floor of the gable are two windows with modern frames. Rough cast render to the whole of gable. On second floor there are two modern sash windows as on first floor.

To the rear, left side, is a small shallow pitched, felted roofed, kitchen extension. It is built on the squint running SE. It has two modern PVC windows and a modern door. To the right of centre of the main elevation is a narrow three storey ‘stair return’ with modern windows 2 No at intermediate levels. To the right of the stair is a modern door with two modern windows above.(one to first floor and one to second) To the left of the stair return is a small window at first floor level. All windows and doors to the rear are in PVC.

The roof is gabled and covered with Bangor blue slates. Timber fascia, PVC guttering and cast iron down spout. Two modern red brick chimneys with modern pots. Chimney to left side shared with No.25.

Historical information

Site with building(s) appears on Patrick O’Hare’s map of 1799, in possession of Widow Moreland. The valuation returns of 1838 tell us that that there was a three storey house with a gateway in place at that point (in the hands of a Henry Moreland), which was relatively old- possibly mid to later 18th century. It is probable that the 1838 house is substantially that we see today.

The building remained in the ownership of the Moreland family until at least 1863, but at that date was rented to a Jane Wilson.

Much of the ground floor was converted to a shop in c.1900. The shop itself appears to have sold confectionary from the beginning, but a pony and trap hiring company was run from premises also during the early 1900s.

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), p.11
2 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.
3 David Dunlop, "Rock Angus- No.2 Ferry Street" in 'Journal of the Upper Ards Historical Society No.15' (1991), pp.12-13

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

Tall, three storey end of terrace house, of probable 18th century origin. Despite some alterations it retains its special character and is a prominent building in the centre of The Square.