Home

What's New?

The Society

Events Programme

White House Project

Gallery

Links

Location Map


Contact us at:
Abbey Historical Society
c/o The White House
28-34 Whitehouse Park
Newtownabbey
BT37 9SQ

E-mail us at:
Abbey Historical Society

The White House Project

The White House is Newtownabbey’s oldest building and can trace it’s history back to 1569, over 150 years older than any building in Belfast. In 1996 Ulster Garden Villages purchased the old Whitehouse Gospel Hall on behalf of the society as there was a fear that this part of history could disappear for ever. For many years the White House housed the societies collection of artifacts which have been donated over the years until the condition of the building deteriorated that we were unable to use it.

During the next 10 years a number of plans were developed for the preservation of this listed building and the White House Preservation Trust was formed in 2000 to enable further funding opportunities to be explored. In 2006 the White House appeared on the BBC Restoration Village coming runner up for Northern Ireland. After many set backs the Trust has been awarded funding from The Heritage Lottery Fund, Biffaward, Ulster Garden Villages and The Northern Ireland Environment Agency totaling over £950,000 to transform the building into a community and educational use. When complete the White House will house an exhibition on the Williamite Wars in Ireland for it was here on the 14th June 1690 that King William III met his generals before proceeding onto the Battle of the Boyne and much of his army landed on the nearby shoreline. Restoration work got underway in September 2008 and the buildingwas completed in June 2011.

Please see the White House Preservation Trust web site - http://www.thewhitehouseni.com