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- Jan 6, 2013
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1. The History
Cairndhu House is situated near Larne, County Antrim, in Northern Ireland. It was originally built for Mr Stewart Clark around 1878. A wealthy Scottish textile industrialist, Mr Clark. It replaced a farm built on the same site which, due to its close proximity to the coast, was called Seaview. The house comprised of two storeys and many gables built in a slightly Oriental style which included open-work barge-boards and a wooden veranda and balcony that ran for most of its frontage.
The building was extended around 1897 to the designs of Samuel P Close and again in 1906. His daughter, Edith, married Sir Thomas Dixon, who then subsequently purchased Cairndhu in 1918 and added the servants' dining hall. The Dixon family held many house and garden parties and entertained public dignitaries with grouse shooting in the Antrim Hills. The house had a large workforce that numbered 20 indoors staff, kitchen staff, ladies’ maids and upstairs staff. Sir Thomas kept livestock including a herd of dairy cows. Additionally, there were 21 gardeners and estate workers.
In better days:
20190118_193145 by HughieDW, on Flickr
At the outbreak of World War II in 1939, Sir Thomas (the then serving mayor of Larne) handed over the estate for use as a War Hospital Supply Depot while continuing to live in the house. A year later in 1940 Lady Dixon gave one of their three Rolls-Royces to be converted into an ambulance for the Larne A.R.P. Ambulance Service. Two years after the war, in 1947, Sir Thomas celebrated his 79th birthday. He brought his forty-year association with Cairndhu by donating their 60-room family home and 100-acres estate to the Ministry of Health and Local Government for use as a convalescent home and hospital. Three years later, in 1950, Sir Thomas died on holiday in Harrogate, aged 81. Later that year, Cairndhu officially opened as a convalescent hospital which remained open for the next 36 years. In 1986 funding difficulties meant that it was closed down by the Department of Health and Social Services. It then lay empty until 1995 when the Lord Rana purchased Cairndhu House and the surrounding gardens from the council. It remained unused and slipped into dereliction, being heavily vandalised and suffering a number of collapsed floors and water ingress due to holes in the roof, gaining a reputation as one of the most haunted houses in Northern Ireland.
20190118_193813 by HughieDW, on Flickr
In 2015, parts of Ridley Scott's sci-fi thriller Morgan were filmed at the house. A public consultation was to be held in May 2018, over plans to develop the site of the derelict mansion into 'retirement village' facilities including an 80-bedroom nursing home including the retention and restoration of the stable block at a cost of around £25-£30million.
2. The Explore
Had seen this place pop up in a few reports so when it transpired, we were holidaying just down the road I got up early one mild December morning to check the place. Out after parking in the near by country-park car park, a brief five-minute stroll saw me reach my quarry. With security gate wide open and metal sheeting ripped off the main door, it was an easy access explore. The place itself is completely trashed and many of the floors have either fallen through are a very shady. Hence, I declined to venture up-stairs, instead opting to take more time viewing its ornate facades. With talk of grand and expensive restoration projects it remains to be seen if these transpire before it is either burnt down or falls down. Hopefully it will be the former as it is a lovely looking building and well worth and hour or so of exploring time.
3. The Pictures
The view that greets you having walked through the open security gates:
img0296 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Moving clock-wise around the house:
img0295 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img0294bw by HughieDW, on Flickr
Where’s Romeo and Juliet when you need them?
img0245 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img0246 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img0291 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img0290bw by HughieDW, on Flickr
img0250 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img0249 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The former stable block:
img0258 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img0263 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img0259 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img0264 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img0255 by HughieDW, on Flickr
In we go:
img0287 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img0270 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img0269 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img0268 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img0267 by HughieDW, on Flickr
It’s pretty trashed, and, of course has the obligatory knob’ graffiti:
img0286 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Nope – this isn’t supposed to be an atrium:
img0285 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img0274bw by HughieDW, on Flickr
img0276 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And equally predictably, it’s been relieved of all of its fireplaces:
img0281 by HughieDW, on Flickr
And its radiators need a bit of attention:
img0275 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img0279 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Some of the old wooden paneling survives:
img0272 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Up to the second floor? Maybe not…
img0271 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Cairndhu House is situated near Larne, County Antrim, in Northern Ireland. It was originally built for Mr Stewart Clark around 1878. A wealthy Scottish textile industrialist, Mr Clark. It replaced a farm built on the same site which, due to its close proximity to the coast, was called Seaview. The house comprised of two storeys and many gables built in a slightly Oriental style which included open-work barge-boards and a wooden veranda and balcony that ran for most of its frontage.
The building was extended around 1897 to the designs of Samuel P Close and again in 1906. His daughter, Edith, married Sir Thomas Dixon, who then subsequently purchased Cairndhu in 1918 and added the servants' dining hall. The Dixon family held many house and garden parties and entertained public dignitaries with grouse shooting in the Antrim Hills. The house had a large workforce that numbered 20 indoors staff, kitchen staff, ladies’ maids and upstairs staff. Sir Thomas kept livestock including a herd of dairy cows. Additionally, there were 21 gardeners and estate workers.
In better days:
20190118_193145 by HughieDW, on FlickrAt the outbreak of World War II in 1939, Sir Thomas (the then serving mayor of Larne) handed over the estate for use as a War Hospital Supply Depot while continuing to live in the house. A year later in 1940 Lady Dixon gave one of their three Rolls-Royces to be converted into an ambulance for the Larne A.R.P. Ambulance Service. Two years after the war, in 1947, Sir Thomas celebrated his 79th birthday. He brought his forty-year association with Cairndhu by donating their 60-room family home and 100-acres estate to the Ministry of Health and Local Government for use as a convalescent home and hospital. Three years later, in 1950, Sir Thomas died on holiday in Harrogate, aged 81. Later that year, Cairndhu officially opened as a convalescent hospital which remained open for the next 36 years. In 1986 funding difficulties meant that it was closed down by the Department of Health and Social Services. It then lay empty until 1995 when the Lord Rana purchased Cairndhu House and the surrounding gardens from the council. It remained unused and slipped into dereliction, being heavily vandalised and suffering a number of collapsed floors and water ingress due to holes in the roof, gaining a reputation as one of the most haunted houses in Northern Ireland.
20190118_193813 by HughieDW, on FlickrIn 2015, parts of Ridley Scott's sci-fi thriller Morgan were filmed at the house. A public consultation was to be held in May 2018, over plans to develop the site of the derelict mansion into 'retirement village' facilities including an 80-bedroom nursing home including the retention and restoration of the stable block at a cost of around £25-£30million.
2. The Explore
Had seen this place pop up in a few reports so when it transpired, we were holidaying just down the road I got up early one mild December morning to check the place. Out after parking in the near by country-park car park, a brief five-minute stroll saw me reach my quarry. With security gate wide open and metal sheeting ripped off the main door, it was an easy access explore. The place itself is completely trashed and many of the floors have either fallen through are a very shady. Hence, I declined to venture up-stairs, instead opting to take more time viewing its ornate facades. With talk of grand and expensive restoration projects it remains to be seen if these transpire before it is either burnt down or falls down. Hopefully it will be the former as it is a lovely looking building and well worth and hour or so of exploring time.
3. The Pictures
The view that greets you having walked through the open security gates:
img0296 by HughieDW, on FlickrMoving clock-wise around the house:
img0295 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg0294bw by HughieDW, on FlickrWhere’s Romeo and Juliet when you need them?
img0245 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg0246 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg0291 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg0290bw by HughieDW, on Flickrimg0250 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg0249 by HughieDW, on FlickrThe former stable block:
img0258 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg0263 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg0259 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg0264 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg0255 by HughieDW, on FlickrIn we go:
img0287 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg0270 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg0269 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg0268 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg0267 by HughieDW, on FlickrIt’s pretty trashed, and, of course has the obligatory knob’ graffiti:
img0286 by HughieDW, on FlickrNope – this isn’t supposed to be an atrium:
img0285 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg0274bw by HughieDW, on Flickrimg0276 by HughieDW, on FlickrAnd equally predictably, it’s been relieved of all of its fireplaces:
img0281 by HughieDW, on FlickrAnd its radiators need a bit of attention:
img0275 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg0279 by HughieDW, on FlickrSome of the old wooden paneling survives:
img0272 by HughieDW, on FlickrUp to the second floor? Maybe not…
img0271 by HughieDW, on Flickr
