Ardnaveigh, 4 Birch Hill Road, Antrim, Co Antrim, BT41 2QH

Ardnaveigh is a partly 18th century and partly 19th century complex built originally as a stable court and outbuildings, now partly residential, which retains some original features but has lost others through later alterations.

The building is a two-storey courtyard development, formerly built as a stable yard but now partly converted for residential use. The main entrance to the courtyard is on the east side, with the wing used as a house situated on the west side.

The west elevation of the house wing features a hipped roof of Bangor blue slates laid in regular courses. The walling is of basalt rubble with granite quoins. The entrance is a rectangular timber 8-panel door with a radial fanlight and 3-pane sidelights set in an elliptical arched opening with smooth cement render to the arch. To the right of the doorway is a rectangular timber sliding sash window, 6 over 9, with horns. The remaining windows are modern fixed lights and top-hung vents set in modern rustic brick surrounds. Modern rustic brick chimneys are present. PVC downpipes serve the roof drainage.

The south end of the house wing employs similar materials and includes a 20th century glazed timber side door. The east elevation, facing into the courtyard, uses the same walling except for stone block surrounds to windows, including wide elliptical arched openings now closed up with modern timber small-paned windows.

Other wings within the courtyard are constructed in basalt with block surrounds to windows and doorways, incorporating wide elliptically arched openings. These are in partially derelict condition. The east wing contains the main entrance into the courtyard through an elliptically arched coachway, ornamented with anthemion-decorated acroteria on its outer face. To the right is incorporated a smooth rendered original house with a later gabled red brick projection, also in partially derelict condition.

Outbuildings include a small single storey detached block to the west, built of snecked blackstone with sandstone block dressings to openings; this is now completely derelict. A pair of gabled single storey blocks to the east comprises one in roughly coursed basalt rubble with rounded brick dressings to openings, and another in painted snecked basalt with granite dressings and an elliptical arched doorway now blocked up. The latter gable is surmounted by an Italianate bellcote in sandstone.

The building stands in a rural area on an eminence, formerly surrounded by farmland and reached by long lanes from the public road. An extensive modern school has been built in its grounds immediately to the south.

Ardnaveigh was built circa 1838 for Thomas Montgomery as the stableyard and offices of Birch Hill House, which was later renamed Ardnaveigh. Birch Hill House had been constructed circa 1785 by a Mr Bristow. After several changes of ownership, Thomas Montgomery owned the property in the 1830s. The Ordnance Survey Memoirs of 1838 described the office houses as "only recently finished. They form a handsome square and are very superior in their finish and design". The north and west portion appear on the 1832 Ordnance Survey map, with the remainder shown by 1857. Ardnaveigh House itself was demolished circa 1943 following a fire during occupation by forces during the Second World War. Part of the stableyard was subsequently converted into a house.