Down country houses

1667 – Waringstown House, Waringstown, Co. Down

One of the oldest unfortified mansion houses in Ireland, it was built by William Waring, who founded the village, and still remains the home of the his descendants.

1730 – Tollymore Park, Bryansford, Co. Down

Architect: Thomas Wright / Charles Lanyon / James Rawson Carroll

Much extended country house, around four sides of a courtyard,

1736 – Gill Hall, Dromore, Co. Down

Architect: Richard Cassels

The Gill Hall estate was named after a Captain Magill an officer in Cromwell’s Army, prior to the 1641 rebellion he is said to have obtained half the townland of Ballynagarrick from Art Og Magennis for the sum of £150,

1755 – Belvoir Park, Newtownbreda, Co. Down

Architect: Christopher Myers / William J. Barre

A Georgian house for Arthur Hill, later Viscount Dungannon, which was added to the North end of an earlier house.

1804 – Clandeboye, Bangor, Co. Down

Architect: Robert Woodgate

Ballyleidy House was extensively remodelled and extended for 2nd Baron Dufferin, to form a substantial L-shaped building consisting of a 7-bay southern range and 9-bay range to the east.

1818 – Carrowdore Castle, Carrowdore, Co. Down

Constructed in 1818-20 by Nicholas de La Cherois-Crommelin as a country house with castellations, corner turrets and large projecting tower. The effect is somewhat whimsical and as it is now without ivy,

1823 – Ormeau House, Co. Down

Architect: William Vitruvius Morrison

A long rambling Tudor mansion designed for the 2nd Marquess of Donegall on the then outskirts of Belfast,

1825 – Purdysburn House, Newtownbreda, Co. Down

Architect: Thomas Hopper

Described simply as “Purdysburn, the splendid mansion of Narcissus Batt, Esq., built after a design by Hopper”

1832 – Donard Lodge, Newcastle, Co. Down

Architect: John Lynn, Thomas Duff, Thomas Jackson

Built in 1829-32 by the 3rd Earl Annesley as a marine residence.

1836 – Rostrevor House, Rostrevor, Co. Down

Architect: William Deane Butler

Constructed to replace an earlier house, known as Carrickbawn which was built by the Maguires and known locally as ‘Topsy-Turvy’,