Council takes ownership of The White House
The official handover from The White House Preservation Trust Board of Trustees to Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Thomas Hogg took place on Monday, May 11.
The Whitehouse Park heritage centre, which has been under council management since the end of March this year, will continue to be open for community use, in order to satisfy conditions of both Biffa Award and Heritage Lottery Fund, two of the principal funders of the £1million restoration of the 16th century fortified farmhouse.
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Hide AdSpeaking at the official handover, Cllr Hogg commented: “On behalf of the council, I would like to commend The Trust for their exceptional success in obtaining grant aid from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Biffa Award, Northern Ireland Environment Agency and Ulster Garden Villages. Furthermore, none of this success would have been possible without the dedication of The White House volunteers, who mainly came to the project through the Abbey Historical Society. As a result of this dedication, the White House has now been restored into a beautiful and informative visitor centre.”
The White House, most famous for having played host to William of Orange in the days before the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, is currently only open by appointment, with guided tours and refreshments available on request. The function room at the property can also be hired for events.
The council has confirmed that future opening arrangements for individual visitors and groups are currently under review.
For more information call Museum at The Mill on 028 9034 0129.
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