Gracehill Old School Museum
Free museum room in the 1765 Old School of the Moravian village of Gracehill, with panels and a lace exhibition on the settlement.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Gracehill is a Georgian village on the edge of Ballymena, founded by the Moravian Church in 1759. It was the first Conservation Area in Northern Ireland and is the only complete Moravian settlement in Ireland. It is now recognised as part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing for Moravian Church settlements.
The Old School dates from 1765 and is the home of the museum room. The room tells the history of the settlement with information panels and displays, and it includes an exhibition of lacework. The building also has a restored classroom, the Schoolroom, and houses the Millside restaurant, which opened there in 2008.
Casual visitors can find information about the village in the Old School, and admission to the museum room is free. Guided tours of the village are run by certified local guides. They include a short film presentation in the Old School, a walk around the Square and visits to the church, the Old Shop and the historic garden.
Highlights
- Museum room on the history of the Moravian settlement
- Exhibition of lacework
- Restored historic classroom
- Guided tours of the Georgian village
Permanent exhibition
- Museum Room – Interpretive panels and displays on the history of the Gracehill settlement, with an exhibition of lacework.
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Groups (16+ people) | £7 per personGuided village tour for groups of more than 15; £7.50 per person for smaller groups. |
|---|---|
| Guided village tour for groups, per person | £7.50Booking required; about 1.5 hours. |
Admission to the museum room is free. Guided tours of the village are charged.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The tourism listing describes the Old School as fully accessible for visitors with disabilities.
Kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Baby changing facilities
Tours adapted for children and schools are available, for example on the Old Shop, the history of the postage stamp or a heritage treasure hunt. Baby changing facilities are available.
Getting there & parking
By car
Parking available
On-site parking is listed. The museum room is in the Old School on Church Road in the centre of the village.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Restaurant
The Old School houses the Millside restaurant, a non-licensed restaurant where visitors can bring their own drink, open Monday to Saturday 09:00 to 15:00 and 17:00 to 21:00, and Sunday 12:00 to 15:00 and 17:00 to 20:00. Toilets are available.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided village tours last about one and a half hours and include a short film in the Old School Room, a walk around the Square, and visits to the church, the Old Shop and the historic garden. Tours for children and schools are also offered. |
