Springhill House - Summer Opening

Springhill House is one of the more rewarding historic houses in Ulster - a late 17th-century plantation home that has stayed lived-in and human-scaled rather than turning into a grand showpiece. Built around 1680 by William Conyngham, a Scottish settler who arrived during the Plantation of Ulster, it remained in the same family for nearly 300 years before the National Trust took it on in 1957. The result is a house that feels genuinely occupied rather than curated, with Dutch-styled gardens, old woodland, and a costume collection that has no equivalent in Northern Ireland. From July through August 2026 it opens daily, making it the easiest time of year to visit without planning around weekend-only hours.

What to expect

The house itself is compact and approachable - two stories of lime and stone with later wings added in the 18th and 19th centuries. Guided tours bring it to life, walking visitors through rooms where the Lenox-Conyngham family’s story unfolds across the generations. There is a 17th-century Italian chimneypiece in the dining room, salvaged from another house entirely, and the kind of everyday domestic detail that grander properties tend to strip out.

The real draw for many visitors is the Costume Collection, housed in the old laundry building. It is the largest such collection in Northern Ireland, established in 1960 and now running to over 2,000 pieces spanning the late 17th century through to the 20th. A selection is displayed each year with an annual themed exhibition, so the show changes. Children can try on historical pieces, which tends to go down well. Allow a solid hour for the house tour and collection combined - most people find they need more time than they expected.

The grounds are generous. Mature woodland, an 18th-century walled garden, and open lawns give plenty of room to wander after the tour. The café does tea, coffee, and light food, and visitor facilities are located near both the main car park and the costume museum.

The house also carries a reputation for its ghost - Olivia, wife of George Lenox-Conyngham, is considered one of the best-documented hauntings in Ireland. Whether you find that compelling or not, the guides know the story well.

Getting there

Moneymore sits in Mid-Ulster, roughly 8 kilometres south of Magherafelt and about 50 kilometres from Belfast via the M2 and A6. Springhill House is signposted from the village on the Moneymore Road. By car it is straightforward; free parking is available on site. Public transport to Moneymore is limited - the most practical approach for those without a car is to take a bus or train to Cookstown or Magherafelt and arrange onward travel from there. The grounds can be accessed on foot via a gate along the main road if you arrive outside house-opening hours.

While you’re in Moneymore

Moneymore itself is a good example of a Plantation-era village, laid out by the Worshipful Company of Drapers in the early 17th century and rebuilt to plan in 1817. The Moneymore Model Village nearby reconstructs life in rural Ulster at the time of the Plantation and is worth a stop. There is more to see in Moneymore and across Co. Derry.

Good to know

• Open daily throughout July and August 2026; weekends only in June and September
• Opening time: 10:00am
• Free admission (National Trust property; standard NT membership applies)
• Café on site
• Dogs welcome on leads in the garden, woodland, café, and visitor reception; assistance dogs only inside the house and costume museum
• Check current details and any special events at nationaltrust.org.uk/springhill