10. Antrim Castle Gardens

Delivered by Hamilton Architects for Kriterion Conservation Architects

Antrim Castle Gardens & Clotworthy House

In one of the largest garden restoration projects ever undertaken in Northern Ireland, we rehabilitated historic gardens and ancillary buildings to provide exhibition, café, shop and conference facilities. This £5.6m restoration was a key element in the regeneration of nearby Antrim town centre, re-establishing the link between the town and the demesne while providing a quality recreational, interpretative and learning resource. Antrim Castle Gardens, comprising a late 17th century landscaped park which encompasses 19th century Pleasure Gardens and French Gardens, was formerly the seat of the Skeffington family, Viscounts Massereene and Ferrard. Clotworthy House, a Grade B listed carriage house and stables built in the Tudor revival style around the 1840s, was restored as an attractive one and two storey building of squared rubble stone with granite quoins, plinths and dressings built around a courtyard. The Long Barn, a late 19th century brick agricultural building which was badly fire damaged in 2006, was re-imagined to house an art gallery, community arts studios and accommodation for the gardening staff.

Awards: • RICS Tourism & Leisure Award winner