Museums, archives and heritage in County Armagh

Armagh – an inland county, province Ulster, bounded N. by county. Tyrone and Lough Neagh, E. by co. Down, S. by Louth, and W. by counties Monaghan and Tyrone. Greatest length N. and S., 32 miles; greatest breadth E. and W., 20 miles. Area, 328,086 acres (311,048 acres land and 17,038 water). Population 163,177, of whom 75,709 were Roman Catholics, 53,390 Protestant Episcopalians, 26,077 Presbyterians, and 4884 Methodists. The surface rises with gentle undulations from the shores of Lough Neagh to the hilly districts of the S. and SE.; chief summit Slieve Gullion, 1893 ft. The rivers are the Bann, Blackwater, Callan, and Newry. The soil is generally fertile, and there is much bog. Linen is the staple manufacture; there is also cotton. The county comprises 8 baronies, 28 parishes and parts of parishes, part of the parliamentary borough of Newry, the city of Armagh, and the towns of Lurgan, Portadown, and Tanderagee.

– John Bartholomew, Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887)

Ardress House – National Trust

64 Ardress Road, Annaghmore

Portadown BT62 1SQ

028 8778 4753

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ardress-house

This charming 17th-century farmhouse, elegantly remodelled in Georgian times, offers fun and relaxation for all the family. Set in 40 hectares (100 acres) of countryside there are apple orchards, charming woodland and riverside walks. The atmosphere of a working farmyard has been rekindled with the return of small animals.

Argory, The – National Trust

Derrycaw Road, Moy

Dungannon BT71 6NA

01868 784753

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/argory

Built in the 1820s, this handsome Irish gentry house is surrounded by its 130-hectare (320-acre) wooded riverside estate. The former home of the MacGeough Bond family, a tour of this neo-classical masterpiece reveals it is unchanged since 1900 – the eclectic interior still evoking the family’s tastes and interests.

Armagh Ancestry

38a English Street

Belfast BT61 7BA

028 3752 1800

www.armagh.co.uk/place/armagh-ancestry

Armagh Ancestry is the Irish Family History Foundation designated research centre for genealogical research in County Armagh. It is a member of the Irish Family History Foundation, a 32 county, cross border foundation, appointed by both the Church and State to create a national genealogical archive for the whole of Ireland.

Armagh County Museum

The Mall East

Armagh BT61 9BE

02837 523070

www.armaghcountymuseum.org.uk

Armagh County Museum is located on the Mall, an area of urban parkland in the centre of the city. The unique character of the museum’s architecture makes it one of the most distinctive buildings in Armagh, similar in appearance to a little Greek temple. The oldest county museum in Ireland, its extensive collections are based on specimens gathered by the Armagh Natural History and Philosophical Society.

Armagh Observatory

College Hill

Armagh BT61 9DG

028 3752 2928

star.arm.ac.uk

The Armagh Observatory is a modern astronomical research institute with a rich heritage. Founded in 1790 by Archbishop Richard Robinson, the Observatory is one of the UK and Ireland’s leading scientific research establishments.

Craigavon Museum Services

Lough Neagh Discovery Centre, Annaloiste Road

Lurgan BT66 6NJ

028 3831 1669

www.facebook.com/CraigavonMuseumServices

Craigavon Museum Services is based at the Lough Neagh Discovery Centre. The museum collection includes over 150 vintage radios, ranging from the 1920s to the 1980s, along with many social history items and photographic material of the local area. T

Palace Stables Heritage Centre

Palace Demesne

Armagh BT60 4EL

028 3752 9629

goo.gl/zTAiTN

Restored 1770 Georgian stables block set in the Palace Demesne. The Heritage Centre is located beside the Primate’s Palace, formerly the home of the Archbishop of the Church of Ireland until the 1970s.

Royal Irish Fusiliers Museum

Sovereigns House, Mall East

Armagh BT61 9DL

01861 522911

goo.gl/fXuaAV

The museum is in Sovereign’s House, a Grade B listed building. The collection contains the uniforms, medals, regalia and the two Victoria Crosses won by the regiment. The regimental archive and library may be viewed by appointment.