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| Bush House (Timothy Ferres, 2022) |
BUSH HOUSE, 72-74 Main Street, Bushmills, County Antrim, has been a public house for most of its existence.
It was built ca 1834, a time when the village was redeveloped by the landlords, the Macnaghtens of DUNDARAVE HOUSE, a mansion and country estate on the outskirts of Bushmills.
Bush House comprises two storeys and four bays, with a coach archway to the right of the building.
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| Eroded stone figure (Timothy Ferres, 2022) |
The porch and door-way are distinctive, with what appears to be an eroded sandstone surround containing two figures on each side; with a dentil cornice above.
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| Bush House, pebble-dashed (Tripadvisor, 2017) |
The frontage of the house was pebble-dashed until recently, and today the original stone can be seen in all its glory.
A prominent sign, "BUSH HOUSE," graces the wall above the front entrance.
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| Front signage (Timothy Ferres, 2022) |
The first tenant of Bush House was James McKibbin, who used it was a dwelling and shop; followed quite soon thereafter by a local miller called George Dinsmore.
Dinsmore vacated the premises about 1863.
James McNeill (1828-86) opened the first public house in the premises ca 1871, and Bush House continued to operate as a bar until about 1900 under the auspices of Margaret Jane McNeill (1841-1918), described in the census as "grocer and spirit merchant."
At this period Bush House comprised twelve rooms and four stables, a coach house, barn, and store.
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| Bush House to the right (W A Green/NMNI) |
Mrs McNeill left ca 1905, and the "Bush Hotel," as it became known, was thereafter let to several tenants.
Charles Callaghan purchased Bush House from the Macnaghten Estate ca 1930, and continued to run it as a public house and hotel till some time between 1956 and 1972 (likely the 1960s).
The fireplace in the lounge at the back of the bar has a mahogany fire surround which is reputedly from the Arcadia ballroom in Portrush.
Bush House is now self-catering accommodation in addition to operating as a public house.
2 comments :
Always enjoy nipping in for a drink before dinner in one of Bushmills’ excellent restaurants. A very friendly spot. Good to learn its history.
Anon, I'm keen to write about several other well-known establishments in the village, though have no knowledge of their history so far. The hotel, for instance. Tim.
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