33-33A The Square

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Low proportioned terrace block of probable late 18th century construction, originally a dwelling but now containing two shops and an apartment. The block is set within the terrace on the E side of Portaferry town Square.

Front (W) elevation is asymmetrical. To the left of centre on the ground floor there is a modern partly glazed door (to No.33A). To the left of this is a modern fixed light, timber shop window with painted wooden shop sign above. To the far left is plywood sheeted door (which gives access to rear).

To the right of centre is a panelled and glazed door (which leads to No.33) Modern four pane shop window to the right.

To the first floor are four unevenly spaced windows. The first three windows are quite small and have modern frames. That to the left is a large completely modern window. The front façade is finished in lined render and painted. Eaves course. Cast iron down spout and guttering. Prominent electric cabling at eaves level.

The rear of No. 33A is mainly obscured by the two storey return (belonging to No.33) The visible portion has a modern 15 pane window to the centre of a very small, flat roofed, porch extension. To first floor is a modern window while to the flat roofed, attic dormer, is a further modern timber window.

To the rear of No. 33 is a large two storey return with a hipped and slated roof. The E face has two sash windows while the N face has two similar windows to the left and a modern window to the right. To the E end of the return is a single storey brick return (3/4 width) with a shallow pitched roof (Felt covered). To the E face is a steel clad door to the centre with a sash window to either side. Four steps rise to the door.

Pitched roof with Bangor blue slates and two original cast iron skylights. Narrow cement parapet on partly exposed gable to right. Cement rendered chimney stack to right with no pots. Each gable abuts its higher neighbour.

Historical information

A building is shown on this site, in the then possession of a Widow Donning, on Patrick O’Hare’s map of 1799. The valuation returns of 1838 record a relatively old (grade 'B'- perhaps c.1790s), two storey dwelling house in place at that stage, then occupied by a [?]Widow McKibbin and a Miss Cahey. It is likely that this is the same building we see today.

In 1863 the occupant is recorded as a Mary Morris. During the early 1900s the property was acquired by the Leeman family, who were apparently well known in the locality for holding large tea parties. The shop front to No.33 was inserted some time prior to 1975, with the ground floor of No.33 converted to a shop some time after this.

The present owner stated that the large hall was hired out as a dance hall and for dance classes.(?up until the 1950s).

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

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
I. Quality and survival of Interior

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest
Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance

Evaluation

Low well proportioned terrace block of probable late 18th century construction, originally a dwelling but now containing two shops and an apartment.