1864 – Dromantine House, Newry, Co. Down

The Dublin architect John McCurdy was responsible for rebuilding Dromantine House in the Italian Renaissance style in the 1860s. The Innes family were obviously keen on extending their house which was only constructed in 1834 – previous plans by William Deane Butler circa 1855 and John Ramsey in 1857, and later two schemes by McCurdy – a first scheme of 1859, and a second scheme of 1860, were not followed through. McCurdy’s final scheme was more ambitious and largely executed with extensive alterations and additions. The work cost £6,000.

Most of the estate was sold to the tenants in 1908 and the Innes family remained at Dromantine House until late 1920, with the contents sold at auction in May 1921. The house bought in 1926 by the Society of African Missions who now use it as a retreat and conference centre. Extended in the 1930s in a similar style to the original house, and again in the 1950s.