Home | Heritage at Risk in Northern Ireland

Heritage at Risk(v1.0)

J Wylie 02/02/2012 00:00:00

HB Ref No:
HB21/07/011

Address
Abbey House Whiteabbey Hospital Station Road Newtownabbey Co Antrim BT37 9RH

Townland:
Rushpark

Status:
Currently at Risk

Listing Grade:
B+

HARNI Number:
HARNI 21/07/002

Conservation Area:
No

Condition:
Very Poor

Industrial Archeology:
No

Occupancy:
Vacant

Vernacular:
No

Degree of Risk:
High

Thatched:
No

Availability:
Unavailable

Monument:
No

Current Building Use:
Office

Derelict:
No

Description

A multi-bay, two-storey over partially concealed basement Italianate stucco house, built c. 1855 to designs by Sir Charles Lanyon, located within the grounds of Whiteabbey Hospital Complex and now sadly vacant and boarded up. The deep overhanging eaves project over a highly decorated Italianette cornice with coin frieze. This reference is reinforced with the introduction of fine Corinthian columns each supported on a pedestal to both the porch and projecting balcony. The house was once the home of Sir Charles Lanyon before becoming a Victorian Hydro and then a WW1 Sanatorium. The building is currently boarded up and unused, the condition of the building is showing signs of decay which are detrimental its materials, inlcuding lifted leadwork, missing slates and compromised rainwater goods. Such a prestigous building in Northern Ireland deserves to be restored for the public to use (reviewed March2019). When reviewed in 2023 there have been no changes to the structure which is still boarded up, some sections of the structure are in need of some maintenance with vegetation growth to high areas and it is unsure if the building is being ventilated as many chimney caps are covered and windows boarded.