25 The Square

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Small, plain two storey 'urban vernacular' terrace dwelling , of possible 18th century construction. The house is set within the terrace on the E side of Portaferry town Square, close to the SE corner of the Square.

Front (W) façade is asymmetrical. To the very left on the ground floor is a modern panelled and glazed door to the left, with very low lintel. Relatively large sash window to far right with vertical astragals (2 panes over 2) and horns.

First floor has two windows with modern frames (top hung over fixed light).

To the right side of the ground floor rear is a modern looking flat roofed extension with a deep timber facia. To the E face is a modern door while to the SW face is a modern window. To the first floor are two modern windows. The façade is finished in lined render and painted. Moulded quoins.

The gabled roof is covered with Bangor blue slates. Modern red brick chimney shared with No.24. Eaves course. Cement parapet between No.25 and No.26. Cast iron gutter. Down spout shared with No.26. Prominent electric cabling below guttering.

Historical information

Site with buildings(s) appears on Patrick O’Hare’s map of 1799 in possession of Widow Moreland. The 1838 valuation survey tells us that the house on the site at that point was a two storey dwelling of considerable age, possibly mid to later 18th century. It is probable that the house of 1838 is substantially that still standing today.

The resident in 1838 is listed as a Francis McCracken. McCracken (or a relative of the same name) is also recorded as the occupant in 1863, with the owner of the property listed as James Moreland- undoubtedly a descendant of the 'Widow Moreland' of 1799.

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

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Small, plain two storey 'urban vernacular' terrace dwelling, of possible 18th century construction, but now substantially altered and with little architectural imterest.