About
The Charles Sheils Community is offering guided tours of the grounds of the Charles Sheils Houses in Carrickfergus in order to view the B2 listed buildings dating back to 1868 from 12 noon to 4pm on Saturday 14 September 2024. As it is a residential site, on offer for European Heritage Open Day 2024 is an external viewing of the architecture only. During the tours of the grounds there will be an opportunity to view the architecture of Charles Lanyon in the Victorian Gothic style.
Recently refurbished in 2022 the Charles Sheils Buildings Carrickfergus are rendered with a slate roof including a decorative band of green hand cut fish-scale slates. There are examples of the Lanyon signature floral light apertures throughout the buildings and decorative finial work and barge boards adorn the windows.
Sheils residents and Charles Sheils Community members will be on hand to talk to visitors about the benefactor Charles Sheils and the history of the Sheils Houses. A man ahead of his time, sustainability was topmost in the mind of Charles Sheils as his lengthy will bears testament to, which will be available for viewing along with archive material and manuscripts in the Summer House. Concerned about the effects of the Irish famine, Charles Sheils had five sets of houses built - Killough (where he was born), Dungannon, Armagh, Dublin and Sheils Carrickfergus. He was also aware of those who had served the community but found themselves in 'straightened circumstances' with only the workhouse available to them and wished to provide those in our community 'getting on in years' with a home and the means to be self- sufficient,- hence the spacious grounds. Although times have changed, there are still similarities to the Charles Sheils ethos resonant today.
The guttering at Sheils Carrickfergus is extra large and was originally designed to allow rain water to make its way into two large holding tanks under the large grassy areas accessible by two cow-tail pumps. The grounds still show conservation, bio diversity and recycling at work in the setting of a Victorian demesne. Potted cuttings of the flora on site will be available in the kitchen garden for visitors to take away as a memory of their day at Sheils Carrickfergus.
Modern Day residents practice 'grow your own' and have lately acquired a flock of hens that has added another dimension to life at Sheils, with eggs, fertilizer and ground clearance provided by our feathered friends along with their company. As well as the kitchen garden there is an allotment style area, wildlife pond, fruit bush enclosure, compost area and a rare strawberry tree on site. A perimeter forest style path allows visitors a good view of the buildings along with access driveway and paths leading up to the houses.
Being a corner site there is parking available for visitors on the Downshire Road with a short walk to the entrance gates of Sheils Carrickfergus. Charles Sheils Buildings are fortunate in being close to the town centre of historical Carrickfergus, train and bus services and mark the start of the Antrim Coast Road attraction also influenced by architect Charles Lanyon.
Book Tickets
Guide Prices
| Ticket Type | Ticket Tariff |
|---|---|
| Ticket | Free |
Note: Prices are a guide only and may change on a daily basis.
