Bellaghy Bawn

About the museum

Bellaghy Bawn is a fortified house with a bawn, the defensive wall around a plantation-era residence, in the village of Bellaghy, County Londonderry. It was built in the early seventeenth century during the Plantation of Ulster, when the Vintners' Company of London took on land in the area; the Department for Communities dates the building to around 1619 and credits Sir Baptist Jones.

The original bawn was damaged in the rebellion of 1641 and rebuilt in the following years. What stands today combines building styles from several periods, mainly of the eighteenth century, and is a listed building. A dispensary worked in the bawn from 1832 until 1948, and the main house was lived in until 1987, when the site passed into state care.

The Bawn opened to visitors in 1996 with a small exhibition on the history of the area and a centre dedicated to the poet Seamus Heaney, who was born in the district. The poet's reference library later moved to the nearby Seamus Heaney HomePlace.

The Department for Communities now lists the site as not open to the public, and a tourism listing says it is closed for the foreseeable future for renovation. Funding of 3.8 million pounds has been announced to turn the Bawn and its outbuildings into a writers' residency, run by Mid Ulster District Council.

Highlights

• Plantation-era fortified house and bawn from around 1619
• Historic site in the village where Seamus Heaney grew up
• Planned writers' residency under development

Founded

1996

Operated by

Department for Communities (Northern Ireland)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission was free when the site was open.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

A tourism listing says wheelchair access is limited. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The Seamus Heaney HomePlace is a short walk away.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit