Forestbrook, 11 Forestbrook Road, Rostrevor, Co.Down

Forestbrook House stands on Forestbrook Road in Rostrevor, County Down. The building dates to the 1760s–70s, possibly slightly earlier, and was built by John Darley, a bleach mill operator and former Customs Collector at Newry (1762–1771), according to Bradshaw's General Directory of 1819. Darley established a bleach mill on nearby land (now the site of Shanwillian) and is documented in connection with a water mill and dwelling house in the townland of Newtown in March 1781, which is likely this same property.

Around 1800, the entire complex was sold to Dr. Thomas Black, who converted the bleach yard to paper manufacturing. Following Dr. Black's death in or shortly before 1829, the property—described as a "large, excellent and substantial dwelling house, with coach house and other suitable offices and walled-in gardens"—was offered for sale alongside "Forestbrook paper mills". Legal disputes delayed its sale; by 1835 it was in Chancery, with the mill idle for six years and the house occupied by a caretaker. A valuation from October 1835 recorded the main residence as measuring 44 feet by 22 feet by 24 feet high, with a curved bay return (11 by 8 by 24 feet) and outbuildings immediately to the north.

By 1846, William Bell owned the property and advertised the mills, stores, workmen's houses, mansion house and 34 statute acres for lease. The house was described as three storeys high, beautifully situated, containing a dining room, drawing room, breakfast parlour, four bedrooms, an attic storey, kitchen, pantry and servants' apartments, with a well-enclosed yard, extensive office-houses and stores, and a walled garden. A second house on the site was also mentioned as capable of conversion into "a commodious and capital mansion".

In 1849 the property was sold to Francis Carvill & Son, iron founders of Newry, who converted the mill to a foundry for manufacturing spades and operated an alabaster or lime works on the site. From at least 1854 the Carvills rented out the house. Around 1865 the foundry was converted into a linen dyeing and finishing factory operated by the Forestbrook Linen Manufacturing Company Ltd., managed by Joseph Crawley. Crawley purchased the freehold of the entire concern, including the house, around 1884 and occupied it until his death in October 1913. A curved bay return appears for the first time on the 1902 Ordnance Survey map, though no record of its construction survives in the valuation books and it may have been added by Crawley.

After 1913, the house was occupied by Miss Crawley (presumably Joseph Crawley's daughter) until at least 1945. The house had by then ceased to be connected with the works. Mr. McVittie occupied it in 1968 and Mr and Mrs Henshaw in 1981. The property has changed ownership at least once since 1981. It remains in private residential use.