Milltown House, 35 Derriaghy Road, Derriaghy, Co. Antrim, BT28 3SQ

Milltown House is a long, asymmetrical two-storey, three-bay Georgian house constructed around 1747, though its origins are believed to predate the rebellion of 1688, making it one of the older domestic buildings in the area. It stands on the west side of the junction between Derriaghy Road and Barnfield Road, set within its own landscaped grounds, with the south gable facing directly onto Derriaghy Road. Rectangular in plan, the house retains much of its original architectural fabric and represents an excellent, largely unaltered example of Georgian domestic architecture in terms of style, proportion, and ornamentation.

EXTERIOR

The roof is pitched natural slate with clay ridge tiles and clipped verges to the gable ends. Four sets of chimney stacks are distributed uniformly along the ridge line, each topped with paired tall clay pots. Cast-iron rainwater goods with semi-circular guttering are fixed to single corbelled stone eaves, though some uPVC replacements have been made to the rear. The external walls are finished in ruled-and-lined natural render with rusticated quoins.

The windows are principally single-glazed 6-over-6 Georgian sliding sash with no horns, set on large stone sills with label mouldings over. The front entrance door is a six-panelled timber door with cast-iron ironmongery, flanked by glazed and solid panels within a large elliptical arched opening. Above is a fanlight, with a moulded surround matching the window detailing.

The principal elevation faces east and is uniformly arranged, though the front entrance is positioned off-centre — with two windows to its right and four to its left. The first-floor windows sit directly above the ground-floor openings. A date stone inscribed "1747" with the initials R.M.M. is located above and to the right of the entrance.

The south-facing gable elevation, which fronts directly onto Derriaghy Road, has three window openings at various levels, all of which have been bricked up. The west-facing rear elevation addresses the yard serving the outbuildings, and its asymmetrical arrangement reflects various historical and more recent extensions. The north-facing right gable elevation is also asymmetrical, extending towards the rear yard and incorporating a single-storey return with a mix of window types including box sash, timber casement, and small fixed lights.

SETTING AND OUTBUILDINGS

The house is accessed through modern gates set between two large piers. The driveway curves around the front garden and leads up to the principal east-facing elevation. Access to the rear yard is via the west gable, which leads to a secure enclosure. The outbuildings are of later date, with pitched slated roofs and roughcast walling painted white. The wooded surroundings and sweeping driveway contribute significantly to the character and setting of the house.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The building's date stone records 1747, but according to Brett (Buildings of County Antrim, p.143), citing Fagan, this is the date at which the house was rebuilt rather than first constructed, with origins predating 1688. The house was newly roofed and slated in 1828, and in 1836 approximately £180 was spent on repairs to the house and its appendages — a reference that possibly relates to the addition of two extra bays to the right-hand side.

Milltown House appears on the Ordnance Survey first edition map of 1833, shown as a rectangular plan with outbuildings to the rear and labelled "Milltown." The second and third edition maps of 1859 and 1904 record the gradual development of the rear extensions and outbuildings into what exists today.

The 1835 Townland Valuations do not clearly identify the occupier, but the house most likely formed part of a larger estate under the ownership of the Marquis of Hertford, with a possible occupier being Murray Alderdice. The estate included the house, a corn mill, and a spade manufactory, all valued together at £25 13s. By the time of Griffith's Valuation in 1861, the house was recorded as occupied by the McBride family, who remained as occupiers — as documented in the Annual Revisions — until the early 20th century. In 1862, the Annual Revisions valuer noted: "Wm Mc Bride still complaining of high value of both land and houses, asked could the rent be reduced to £18 as it is an old house … and has not modern arrangements." The valuation of the property continued to fall in response to further complaints, with the house described as too old and too large for a farmhouse. Its recorded value eventually fell from £25 to £17 and finally to £8.

Following the death of the Marquis of Hertford, his son Sir Richard Wallace inherited the estates — including Milltown House — in 1873.

Brett also notes that the house served as the old vicarage of Derriaghy and was occupied by the Reverend Thomas Thompson, who died there in February 1858. The house was known for a period as Milltown Lodge, and Barr (Christ Church Derriaghy, pp.41–42) suggests a possible connection to the formation of the Milltown Freemasons Lodge in 1782, prior to which freemasons had been meeting informally at the Milltown Inn owned by the Alderdice family. Barr further records that before the local hall was built in May 1922, community meetings were held at Milltown House, at that time the home of a Mr R. M. Watson, previously occupied by the McBride family.

At the time of listing, the house was privately owned and occupied by the founders of the Pastel Society of Ireland, and was operating as a private gallery holding regular art exhibitions.