Milford House Museum
Guided house tours at 3 Victoria Street, Armagh, telling the story of Milford House, the McCrum family and the Manor House School, with the family’s collection.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Milford House near Armagh was built by Robert G. McCrum, who made his fortune in the linen industry. It was the first house in Ireland to have hydroelectric power, and its 1898 chandeliers are described as the earliest surviving electric lighting in Ireland. It also had the first telephone system in County Armagh, linking the rooms and the family's factory. William McCrum, who lived there, is linked to the invention of the penalty kick in football.
The family lost its fortune in the Wall Street Crash of 1929, and the contents of the house were sold at auction in 1930. From 1936 the house was used as the Manor House School, a residential school for girls, and the museum keeps thousands of photographs and personal belongings from the school.
The mansion is now derelict and is on the list of the most at-risk listed buildings in Northern Ireland. The Milford Buildings Preservation Trust works to save it and shows the collection in a listed three-storey town house at 3 Victoria Street in Armagh. Family costumes, furniture and papers given by descendants of R. G. McCrum are displayed there, and guided tours tell the story of the house's rise and decline.
Highlights
- Guided tours of the McCrum family collection
- Story of the first house in Ireland with hydroelectric power
- Photographs and belongings from the Manor House School
- Link to the invention of the penalty kick
- Victorian afternoon tea with a house tour
Permanent exhibition
- Milford House collection and guided house tour – Furnishings, costumes, family papers and Manor House School photographs that tell the story of Milford House and the McCrum family.
- Operated by
- Milford Buildings Preservation Trust
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £8 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | £6Concessions |
| Groups | £5 per personGroup rate for pre-booked groups. |
| Families | £20 |
| Silver-service afternoon tea in the Dining Room, including house tour | £25Per person; bookable seven days a week. |
| Lesser Spotted Milford House (guided tours of three sites), group rate | £6Excluding catering. |
Visitors can pay at the door. Free entry for Art Fund Pass holders.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: not available
- Accessible restroom: no information
- 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 ground floor is fully accessible with no steps at the rear entrance and a toilet on this floor; there is one low step at the front door. The house has three floors with no lift, and albums with pictures of the upper rooms are available for visitors who cannot reach them. Tours can be adapted, and special tours for visitors with visual impairments can be arranged. Seating is provided in all rooms. Only assistance dogs are admitted.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Family ticket | £20 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Baby changing facilities
Children’s activities are held at various times of the year, including a mouse trail. Baby changing facilities are available.
Getting there & parking
By car
Parking available
Limited parking in front of the property or nearby on The Mall and in front of Armagh Gaol. There is no coach parking; coaches can drop off and pick up in front of the property, at Armagh Gaol or on The Mall.
The house stands at the bottom of Victoria Street, just off The Mall in Armagh city, beside the Savings Bank at the corner and Armagh Gaol.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
Gift shop. Refreshments are available during events, and afternoon tea can be booked in the Dining Room.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Allowed in certain rooms of the house; no flash. |
| Good to know | Access to the house is by guided tour only. Groups are welcome and should contact the office beforehand. Costumed tours and Milford village walking tours are also offered at times. |
