A Slice of History

When experienced renovator Sue first stepped into this unique Georgian house that she would soon call home, the sense of history emanating from every room was almost tangible.

- Janet McMeekin

At the time, my husband-to-be, Alan, had been living in Ballylaughlis Lodge, located between Lisburn and Belfast, for about 15 years and, from the moment I walked into this charming house, I felt an instant connection,’ Sue confides. ‘As I strolled from room to room, I kept thinking that if only the walls could talk, there would be amazing tales to tell about the house’s past.’

The property, which dates back to 1780, was previously known as Belvedere Cottage, and built as part of the surrounding Belvedere Estate. Previous owners have included Edward S. Clarke, the managing director of the Island Spinning Mill in Lisburn, who initially rented the property from about 1926 when the name was changed to Ballylaughlis Lodge. He later purchased the house, which then remained in the ownership of the Clarke family for more than 60 years.

In 1990, having discovered that this historic abode, set in five acres of beautiful, mature gardens and woodland, was about to go to auction, Alan snapped it up and set about sensitively renovating and modernising the entire property. At that stage, the plumbing, electrics and central heating were overhauled, the galley kitchen extended, new bathrooms installed and new flooring laid.

‘When Alan and I got together in 2003, although clearly a magnificent property, it felt a bit soulless and more like a house, rather than a home,’ says Sue. ‘I loved the wealth of beautiful features, such as the amazing front door with its Georgian fanlight, the original windows and shutters and the stunning staircase in the hallway. However, as Alan totally agreed, it was desperately in need of a fresher, more modern look and an injection of TLC.’