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Launch Of The First Restoration Project For A Traditional Cottage Under The Mourne Homestead Scheme
13 October 2004
A YOUNG Castlewellan couple have been given an early Christmas present – a beautiful cottage set against the backdrop of the Mourne Mountains. Santa had nothing to do with this particular gift, however, rather a combination of their own hard work and resources and the help of the Mourne Heritage Trust which, through its Mourne Homesteads project, helped 23–year-old joiner John Rice and fiancé Rosamund McKee to refurbish the Rock Cottage on the Altnadue Road, just outside Castlewellan.
The idea behind the project is to bring redundant rural dwellings in Mourne back into use, since between 1985 and 2002, over 800 rural traditional dwellings have been lost to the area. Last Thursday’s handover to the young couple marked the first step in the process. Rock Cottage was formerly a derelict two-roomed cottage, but has now been given a new lease of life as a three-bedroom family home. Mr Rice was understandably delighted with the final product, and he and Ms McKee are looking forward to life in their new abode – although not until after they tie the knot next July. He told the Mourne Observer: “We really wanted to keep Rock Cottage but we were unsure it could be lived in again and we were considering replacement. “The Mourne Heritage Trust convinced us the house could be restored and we are over the moon with the result. “The whole thing has cost us about £60,000 and I probably could have built a bigger house for less money, but this is the house that my dad’s great, great grandfather lived in a few hundred years ago, so it’s in the family. “That was the main reason why I wanted to refurbish the building and keep the original shape. There are still a few things that will need done about the house next year but everything should be ready by the time we get married. “We can’t wait,” added Mr Rice.
RESTORATION
The story began back in 2000, when project funding of £30,000 from Ulster Garden Villages enabled the Mourne Heritage Trust to explore the possibilities of a restoration scheme for vacant vernacular buildings within the Mourne and Slieve Croob Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The Mourne Homesteads project was launched in May 2000 in response to the growing awareness of the loss of traditional buildings and associated skills so crucial to the character of the Mournes. Funding for the project has been received from the Architectural Heritage Fund, Co-Operation Ireland, Duchas, Heritage Lottery Fund, Northern Ireland Housing Executive, the Pilgrim Trust, and the Rural Development Council. The scheme has now developed into a project worth in excess of £1.5m. The Mourne Homesteads scheme is a two-strand process – the restoration and renovation of up to nine traditional dwellings within the Mourne AONB and a parallel Education and Training Programme. It is non-profit making and aims to meet existing housing needs by restoring a number of traditional buildings to provide affordable and attractive homes for local people. Speaking at the completion of the first property, Dr Arthur Mitchell, chairman of the Mourne Heritage Trust, said: “Traditional rural dwellings are an integral part of the Mourne landscape. They are part of our social and cultural history and can teach us many lessons about how to build in the countryside.” Other speakers at the launch were Ms Georgina Nayler, from the Pilgrim Trust, and Dr John McPeak, director with Northern Ireland Housing Executive, both bodies having provided significant funding for the restoration of the cottage. The Rural Development Council provided funding to help with the restoration of the curtilage of Rock Cottage. The Mourne Heritage Trust now plans to move ahead with the restoration of a further four traditional dwellings in the near future.
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A YOUNG Castlewellan couple have been given an early Christmas present – a beautiful cottage set against the backdrop of the Mourne Mountains.
