Back to its Former Glory

Noel Lamb has brought the house at Finnebrogue Estate back to it’s former glory and we were fortunate to get a closer look behind the doors of Northern Ireland’s oldest house.

- Noel Lamb

Situated in the heart of Co. Down, Finnebrogue Estate is a wonderland of meandering walkways, sun-dappled woodlands, and beautifully maintained gardens. At the entrance, a driveway twists and curves past soothing shades of green until, suddenly, the trees part and the house slides into view. It’s an impressive sight. Built-in an H-shaped design, this five-bay property is a superb example of 17th-century architecture. Once the Maxwell family’s ancestral home, the house weathered the centuries but societal changes eventually took their toll, and, like many of Ireland’s stately properties, Finnebrogue fell into disrepair. Then, in 2012, Mr. Noel Lamb came to the rescue, breathing life into the house and restoring it to its former glory. Taking time from a busy schedule, Noel told me why, despite the challenges, it’s been a true labour of love.

Firstly, is Finnebogue really Northern Ireland’s oldest inhabited house? ‘Dates can be difficult to pin down,’ Noel explains. ‘But based on a dendrochronological survey that was carried out on some original oak floor joists, back in 2012, we can be fairly certain it was built between 1660 and 1662. As for it being the oldest, inhabited house, well, I’d have to qualify that by saying, it is the oldest undefended house in the country. Prior to 1660, there were a number of forts and castles but, due to the scale of civil unrest, I doubt many houses were built in Ireland during that time.’