Westgate

15-16 The Strand, Portaferry

The above property, house and outbuildings, has lain empty since 2004. Now, with assistance from the Townscape Heritage Initiative, administered by Portaferry Regeneration Ltd, it is being brought back to life. While the exterior will remain the same, internally the building is being sympathetically converted into three homes which will be occupied by the owners, retired folk wishing to downsize.

History of the building

  • 1780 – Patrick Savage leased land to John Maxwell
  • 1799 - Brewery built and owned by John Maxwell
  • 1819 – William Maxwell sold to Thomas Greer
  • 1824 – Thomas Maxwell – miller in outbuildings
  • 1830 – Greers sold to William McCleery
  • 1838 – warehouses behind – separate property owned by William McCleery
  • 1861 – house owned by Hugh Brown, butcher & grocer
  • 1901 – house owned by James McCausland – three bays added to front

1901

Mc Causland / Annie / 22 / Female / Daughter in law / Roman Catholic / Co Down / - / Read and write / - / Married
Mc Causland / James / 48 / Male / Head of Family / Roman Catholic / Belfast / Salvage Contractor / Read and write / - / Married
Mc Causland / Patrick / 12 / Male / Nephew / Roman Catholic / Belfast / Scholar / Read and write / - / Not Married
Edmond / Thomas / 19 / Male / Servant / Roman Catholic / Co Down / Farm Servant / Read and write / - / Not Married
Daley / Arthur / 20 / Male / Servant / Roman Catholic / Co Down / Farm Servant / Read and write / - / Not Married
McCaughey / Maggie / 26 / Female / Servant / Roman Catholic / Co Tyrone / General Servant Domestic / Read and write / - / Not Married
Donaldson / Samuel / 25 / Male / Servant / Roman Catholic / Co Down / Farm Servant / Cannot read / - / Not Married
Donaldson / James / 21 / Male / Servant / Roman Catholic / Co Down / Farm Servant / Read and write / - / Not Married
Mc Causland / David / 24 / Male / Son / Roman Catholic / Belfast / Clerk / Read and write / - / Not Married
Mc Causland / John / 26 / Male / Son / Roman Catholic / Belfast / Marine Diver / Read and write / - / Married
Mc Causland / Susan / 47 / Female / Wife / Roman Catholic / England / House Keeper / Read and write / - / Married
  • 1911 –owned by William McMullan – grain, potato & coal merchant

1911

McMullan / William / 47 / Male / Head of Family / Presbyterian / Co Down / Grain Potato and Coal Merchant / Read and write / - / Married
McMullan / Elizabeth / 41 / Female / Wife / Presbyterian / Co Down / - / Read and write / - / Married
McMullan / William / 21 / Male / Son / Presbyterian / Co Down / Grain Potato and Coal Merchant / Read and write / - / Single
McMullan / Mary / 20 / Female / Daughter / Presbyterian / Co Down / - / Read and write / - / Single
McMullan / Elizabeth Jane / 13 / Female / Daughter / Presbyterian / Co Down / Scholar / Read and write / - / Single
McMullan / Frances Sophia / 11 / Female / Daughter / Presbyterian / Co Down / Scholar / Read and write / - / Single
McMullan / Thomas Archibald / 3 / Male / Son / Presbyterian / Co Down / Scholar / Cannot read / - / Single
Russell / Hugh / 55 / Male / Servant / Roman Catholic / Co Down / Labourer Agricultural / Read and write / - / Married
  • 1936 – Elizabeth Brown purchasedthe property.

A glimpse at the ongoing work: