Bringing the Past to Life

People love seeing inside houses as we well know, but as one woman from Co. Down has discovered it’s not just those that are lived in which attract interest, it’s also those that have been abandoned and the social history they leave behind.

Photographer Rebecca from Maghaberry has always had a passion for documenting old buildings and this hobby has taken off over the last couple of years, leading to TV appearances and an upcoming coffee table book.

‘Juggling a full-time career and two children, it’s not always easy finding the time to go off in search of abandoned buildings, of which I can assure you there are many throughout Ireland! However, when you enjoy doing this as much as I do, all of that juggling and the hard work behind the final images that the general public see is definitely worth it.’

It was while working as a photographer with a local group of paranormal enthusiasts that Rebecca’s love affair with abandoned buildings began. ‘Ten years ago I was the team photographer in a paranormal group and I would have scouted out different locations. I really enjoyed documenting the haunted houses through photography and digging deeper and finding out more about the history of the buildings.’

One of the first houses to really ignite Rebecca’s passion for abandoned buildings was Cairndhu House in Larne. Just off the Coast Road at Glenarm in Co. Antrim, this mansion has laid empty for decades. ‘I’ve always been fascinated with this house. For me, it is more like those mansions you see lying derelict in America rather than Northern Ireland. I really wanted to find out more about it and in 2008 I tracked down the owner at that time, who gave me access to take pictures. The building has exchanged hands since then and is being redeveloped into a multi-million-pound retirement village, with work due to start imminently, but at least my images will serve as a reminder of what had been there before.