This is a list of the ‘lost’ (i.e. demolished or roofless shell/ruined) country houses of Northern Ireland (6 of 9 Ulster counties), in county/house name order. It accompanies the lists for Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales, to appreciate their design and craftspersonship at the height of their grandeur. The initial source is the Mark Bence-Jones book A Guide to Irish Country Houses, 1996 (GICH). If you wish to suggest additions to the list, or links to pre-loss photos, or assist with this project, please contact Andrew.
Approx 90 country houses have been lost in total over the 6 counties,
of which 14 house shells (ruins) remain, that could be restored.
The ‘reason for loss’ letter codes after the year are explained on the Legend
County Antrim, Ulster – 28 houses
Abbeylands, Whiteabbey – 1914, (by Suffragettes) B, photo, GICH
Aberdelghy, Lambeg – tba, D, website, PGUK, GICH
Antrim Castle (Massereene Castle), Antrim – 1922 / 1970, T, D, website, DINI, LBNI, WIKI, GICH
Ardoyne House, Edenderry, North Belfast – c1935, Du, photo, history, GICH
Ballymagarry House [I], Bushmills – 1745, B, N, seat of Marquess of Antrim from mid-C17, LBNI
Ballymagarry House [II], Bushmills – late C20, D, N, built pre-1832, DINI
Ballymena Castle, Ballymena – 1955 / 1957, A, (arson) B, D, photos, GICH
Cairncastle Lodge (Carnfunnock Country Park), Ballygalley – c1938, De, website, LBNI, WIKI
Clare Park, Ballycastle – c1980s, De, DINI, LBNI, LBNI, news, GICH
Conway House (Conway Hotel), Dunmurry – 1976, T, Du, DINI, LBNI, WIKI, GICH
Crebilly House (Crebilly Castle, Craigbilly), Ballymena – 1921, T, N, photos, GICH
Glassabreeden, Whitehouse – tbc, Victorian home of Sir William Moore, LBNI, GICH
Glendaragh (Glendarragh), Crumlin – 1950, (half, dry rot) P, DINI, PGUK, GICH
Glenmona House (Glenmona Lodge) – 1922, T, (1923) N, LBNI, website, FB, NT, DINI, GICH
Glynn, Glynn – tbc, Victorian 3-storey house owned by Johnston family, GICH
Kilwaughter Castle, Larne – c1951, Su, Dw, S, website, FB, news, YT, DINI, LBNI, LFBI, GICH
Langford Lodge, Crumlin – c1959, Su, LBNI, WIKI, website, GICH
Leslie Hill, Ballymoney – 1955, (2 wings/links) P, (1 wing/link) Pr, photo, LBNI, DINI, GICH
Lissanoure Castle, Killagan – 1847, (explosion) B, GICH
Longwood House, Newtownabbey – pre-1978, D, now Abbeycentre, photo, photo
Loughanmore House, Dunadry – 1988, D, photo, DINI, LFBI, GICH
Moneyglass House, Toomebridge – C20 tba, DINI, LBNI, PGUK, Game of Thrones, GICH
Mount Edwards, Cushendall – tbc, 2-storey owned by Boyd & Cuppage families, GICH
Parkmount House, Belfast – 1932, LBNI, GICH
Scoutbush House (Scout Bush), Carrickfergus – 1972, photos, PGUK
Shane’s Castle I, Randalstown – 1816, B, S, website, DINI, GICH
Shane’s Castle II, Randalstown – 1922, T, D, LBNI, GICH
Tullymore Lodge, Broughshane – c1980s, N, photos, photo, LBNI, DINI, PGUK, GICH
– further county reading: GENI, Oracle, UAHS, UAHS, NIHGC, Alston (bio, obit)
County Armagh – 7 houses
Ballymoyer, Belleek – c1918, Dw, LBNI, LBNI, WIKI, GICH
Carrickblacker House, Portadown – 1958, D, (clubhouse 1988) N, LBNI, photos, GICH
Charlemont Fort, Moy (near Roxborough Castle) – 1920, T, (gatehouse remains) D, image, LBNI, LBNI, AS, WIKI, image, GICH
Drumbanagher House, Poyntzpass – 1951, Dw, Iw, LBNI, WIKI, GICH
Drumilly House (Drummilly House), Loughgall – 1966, D, photo, photo, photo, photo, LBNI, DINI, GICH
Drumsill House (Drumsill Hotel), Armagh City – c1972, T, D, (hotel) N, hotel 1957-72, photo, image, LBNI, PGUK, GICH
The Pavilion, Armagh City – c1960, (school) Du, photo, photo, photo, LBNI, LBNI, GICH
Tynan Abbey, Tynan – 1981, T, (c1998) D, WIKI, SB-LVB, LBNI, LBNI, GICH
– further county reading: GENI, UAHS, UAHS, PEVS, NIHGC, Alston (bio, obit)
County Down – 22 houses
Ballymenoch House (Ballymenagh House, Ballymenech House), Ballymenoch Park, Holywood – 1913, (possibly Suffragettes) B, D, photo, LBNI, PGUK
Bancroft House – tbc, Georgian 3-storey 5-bay fanlighted-doorway, GICH
Bangor Castle, Bangor [II] – 1853, (1847-52) N, b1790s in Gothic style, LBNI
Belvoir House (Belvoir Park), Newtownbreda, Belfast – 1961, Du, LBNI, LBNI, LBNI, LBNI, TIA, RDNI, interior, book, GICH (says d1950s)
Brooklands, Belfast – c1972-c1985, (road) Du, DINI, LBNI, GICH
Dalchoolin House, Holywood – tba, (1902–4 Cultra Manor) N, LBNI, WIKI, website
Donard Lodge, Newcastle – 1966, D, LBNI, GICH
Dromore House (Bishop’s Palace, Dromore Palace, Loyola House), Dromore – post 1918, A, D, LBNI, AS, GICH
Dundrum Castle mansion, Dundrum – late-C18 or early-C19, S, built post-1660, image, website, WIKI
Gill Hall (Gillhall), Dromore – 1969 or 1970, B, D, LBNI, AS, PGUK, GICH
Killynether House, Killynether – 1966, (dryrot) D, LBNI, LBNI, LBNI
Moira Castle, Moira – c1870, D, painting, LBNI, GICH
Mount Panther, Dundrum – 1960s, Iw, S, DINI, LBNI, LBNI, LFBI, TIA, for sale 2014, GICH
Norwood Tower, Strandtown – 1955, D, image, LBNI, LBNI, LBNI, LBNI
Old Court House, Strangford – 1922, T, N, photo, photo, LBNI, LBNI, ANCE, chapel website, WIKI, GICH
Orangefield House, Knockbreda, Belfast – early-1970s, B, D, LBNI, GICH
Ormeau House, Belfast – post-1869, (Belfast Castle) Su, (by Council) D, b1823 by William Vetruvius Morrison for 2nd Marquess of Donegall, image, LBNI, GICH
Portavo House, Donaghadee – c2009, (1844) B, (1880) N, (2009) N, LBNI, LBNI, PGUK, GICH
Purdysburn House, Newtownbreda – c1965, Du, LBNI, RDNI, hospital
Shrigley Hall, Killyleagh – tbc, c1970, Victorian Italianate home of Martin family, GICH
Timpany, Ballynahinch – tbc, website, GICH
Tollymore Park (Tullymore Park), Bryansford – 1952, D, LBNI, GICH
– further county reading: GENI, ANCE, UAHS, UAHS, NIHGC, Alston (bio, obit)
County Fermanagh – 13 houses
Castle Archdale, Irvinestown – 1970, Dw, (1957) A, LBNI, LBNI, WWII, GICH
Castle Caldwell, Belleek – late C19, Su, A, S, LBNI, LBNI, GICH
Castle Hume, Enniskillen – 1830s, D, (Ely Lodge, of Castle’s stone) N, TIA, LBNI, GICH
Curragh, Lisnaskea – tbc, 2-storey 3-bay c1700 + 2-storey 5-bay wing, GICH
Ely Lodge, Enniskillen (on Castle Hume estate) – 1870, (blown up) D, LBNI, LBNI, GICH
Innismore Hall, Derrybrusk – 1950s, photo, LBNI
Magheramena Castle (Magheramenagh Castle, Magherameenagh Castle), Belleek – 1950s (unroofed), (1921) A, P, S, LBNI, AS, PGUK, Lodge BaR, GICH
Monea Castle, Monea – 1750, B, S, (Castletown House/Castletown Manor 1870) N, image, website, WIKI, GICH
Necarne Castle (Castle Irvine), Irvinestown – post-WWII, A, Iw, S, for sale c£4m 228a since 2013 (Saving Necarne), LBNI, TIA, IHM, RDNI, DINI, GICH
Nixon Hall, Bellanaleck – D, PGUK, book
Quivey Lodge (Quivvy Lodge, Lanesborough Lodge, Ruinery Lodge), Lough Erne – 1920s, T, S, photo, photo, photo, LBNI, GICH
Ross Ferry House (Rossferry House) – tbc, GICH
Rosslea Manor (Roslea Manor, Spring Grove), Rosslea – 1885 / 1914, B, P, LBNI, LBNI, AS, GICH
– further county reading: GENI, FG, PEVS, UAHS, NIHGC, Alston (bio, obit)
County Londonderry (Derry) – 8 houses
Ballyscullion House (Bishop’s Folly), Bellaghy – 1813 or 1825, Su, D, partially built 1787-1803, image, website, LBNI, WIKI, GICH
Boom Hall (Boomhall), Londonderry – early 1970s, B, S, DINI, LBNI, IHM, LFBI, GICH
Caw House, Londonderry City – post-1975, (Bridgewater) Du, painting, LFBI
Coleraine: The Manor House (Jackson Hall), Coleraine – 1982, (site of car-park at rear of County Hall) D, LBNI, GICH
Downhill Castle (Downhill House), Coleraine – 1950, S, DINI, LBNI, WIKI, book, GICH
Garvagh House, Garvagh – early 1960s, (school b1965, stable block survives) Du, photo, Baron Garvagh, website (walled garden), LBNI, PGUK, WIKI, GICH
Low Rock Castle, Portstewart – 2001, (without permission) Du, LBNI, WIKI, GICH
Somerset House, Coleraine – early 1980s, Du, LBNI, GICH
– further county reading: GENI, PEVS, UAHS, NIHGC, Alston (bio, obit)
County Tyrone – 13 houses
Aughentaine Castle, Fivemiletown – 1955, D, (1958 by Colonel Hamilton-Stubber) N, b1860 for Thomas Richardson Browne, LBNI, GICH
Ballygawley House (Ballygawley Park), Ballygawley – 1921, (accident) B, S, b1825-33 for Sir Hugh Stewart by John Hargrave, LBNI, PGUK, GICH
Carrickmore House (Carrickmore Hall), Carrickmore – late C20, D, bc1840 2-storey 3-bay for Stewart Bt, rectory c1923-c1970, DINI, GICH
Cecil Manor, Augher – tba, D, image, LBNI, PGUK, GICH
Derrabard House, Omagh – tbc, A, Georgian 2-storey, Vesey family, GICH
Ecclesville House, Fintona – c1978, (including gate lodges) D, LBNI, GICH
Favor Royal (Favour Royal), Augher – 2011, A, (arson) B, S, DINI, BARNI, for sale 2013, LBNI, LBNI, LVB, owner, WIKI, GICH
Garvey House, Aughnacloy – 1821 (built 1812), Iw, S, LBNI, GICH
Northland House (Northland Park, Dungannon House, Dungannon Park), Dungannon – c1933, D, photo, photo, photo, photo, LBNI, DHB, AS, PGUK, GICH
Pomeroy House, Pomeroy – c1959, (by Forest Service) D, LBNI, LBNI, GICH
Roxborough Castle, Moy – 1922, T, D, image, LBNI, LBNI, WIKI, GICH
Seskinore House, Fintona – 1952, D, LBNI, GICH
Stuart Hall, Stewartstown – 1972, T, (1987) N, LBNI, GICH
– further county reading: GENI, PEVS, UAHS, NIHGC, Alston (bio, obit)
Restored ruins, or at least re-roofed, since mid-C20 (all counties) – 2 houses
Eglantine House, Hillsborough, County Down – 2012, fire 1990, LBNI
Rademon House, Crossgar, County Down – 1950s, fire, rebuilt by Claud Phillimore, LBNI, GICH
Excluded because ruined before 1700 (all counties) – 2 houses
Castle Caulfield, Castlecaulfield, County Tyrone – abandoned by 1700, WIKI, GICH
Dunluce Castle, Bushmills, County Antrim – from 1690, A, Iw, (Ballymagarry House above, then Glenarm Castle) Su, seat of Marquess of Antrim until mid-C17, website, website, WIKI, GICH
