1865 – Edenmore, Whiteabbey, Co. Antrim

Rambling Italianate mansion built circa 1865 for James Torrens (1796-1884), a prosperous solicitor and land agent for the Donegall and Shaftesbury estates in Ireland. It was a family home for almost 80 years, and was owned by James Torrens’ son Thomas who served as High Sheriff of Co Antrim and Deputy Lieutenant for Belfast. Following his death in 1928, Edenmore became a veterinary hospital for the USPCA and vestiges of its time specialising in cats and dogs remained for a long time, with an animal’s graveyard complete with tiny headstones. It was later adapted as RAF Edenmore, a base for No.67 NI Reserve Group and No.3502 (Ulster) Fighter Control Group. In 1963, Edenmore became a hotel, with its principal function rooms named Eden, Torrens and Shaftesbury in homage to its heritage. Later, it was sold to the Sandown Group who turned it into a nursing home which closed in July 2014. Demolished 2016