Former Old Forge Hotel, Millisle Road, Miller Hill, Donaghadee, Co. Down

The site represents the former location of a large Italianate gentleman’s residence, constructed around 1870-1880 and demolished around 1986. It was situated on a rise to the west of Millisle Road, approximately one mile south of Donaghadee. Originally named ‘Rathmona’, the house was not shown on the 1858-60 Ordnance Survey map. Built by William Carmichael of Millisle, it was described in 1977 as a two-story, mid-19th century villa in the Italianate style, reminiscent of the work of Thomas Jackson. Distinctive features included a boldly carved, shallow porch with a coat of arms incorporated into fish-scale stucco tiles, as well as coupled windows and a bold, bracketed cornice. The building was sold in 1888 and subsequently owned by several individuals and families, including Robert Corry, John McConnell, D. Reid MP, and the Heyn shipping family. At one point, the name was changed to ‘Croagh Patrick’, and it later operated as a hotel. A fire significantly damaged the building in 1981, leading to its demolition and the subsequent construction of a modern nursing home on the site around 1986/7.