"KILREA," the parliamentary gazetteer tells us, "a post and market town, stands at the intersection of the road from Portglenone to Coleraine, with that from Maghera to Ballymena."
"It presents an improving appearance, and possesses a prosperous character."
"The Mercers' Company, to whom it belongs, have built in it an agent's house, a public school, a police barrack, a hotel, and a market-house; and they seem to be wisely as well as strongly studious to promote its well-being."
"Some new lines of road, recently formed to connect the two sides of the basin of the Lower Bann, have greatly facillitated intercourse, and materially increased local business."
"The principal trade of the town consists of the weaving of linen, the sale of agricultural produce, and the conveyance of goods along the river Bann."
It is situated on the western shore of the river Bann, over which is a substantial stone bridge of seven arches, forming a link between Kilrea and County Antrim.
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| Kilrea Manor house (Image: The Manor House & Golf Club) |
THE MANOR HOUSE, Kilrea, County Londonderry, is a two-storey Georgian house with a basement, built in 1835 as an official residence for the agents of the Mercers' Company.
The building cost £4,000 (equivalent to about £520,000 today), and the architect was William Barnes.
Accommodation within the estate included offices, stables, laundry, coach-house, garden-house, gate lodge, and a home farm.
A school operated by the convent was located within the grounds, in the former stable and coach-house.
The first agent to reside in the manor house was William Henry Holmes (c1765-c1846); succeeded by George Bicknell; ROBERT DOLLING; and, in 1878, Sir William Richard Holmes (1822-82).
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| Kilrea Manor (Image: The Manor House & Golf Club) |
Accommodation within the estate included offices, stables, laundry, coach-house, garden-house, gate lodge, and a home farm.
James Fisher resided in the manor house in 1887; and in the early 20th century, a Dr James Lennox (c1862-1924) lived in eighteen of the rooms.
The Mercers’ Company still owned the manor house till the early 20th century; by 1935, however, the estate was occupied by St Anne’s Convent of Mercy.
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| Kilrea Manor (Image: The Manor House & Golf Club) |
A school operated by the convent was located within the grounds, in the former stable and coach-house.
The buildings were occupied by the convent until the mid to late 20th century, and have since been re-modelled and expanded to function as a restaurant and golf club.
The nine-hole golf course opened in 1991.
First published in January, 2021.
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