Discover more at Springhill
Find out when Springhill is open, how to get here, things to see and do and more.
Things to see and do at Springhill
Springhill was the home of ten generations of the Lenox-Conyngham family. Regarded as 'one of the prettiest houses in Ulster', its portraits and furniture feature a wealth of history. Springhill has one of the largest collections of historic dress in Northern Ireland, and you can view an annual exhibition of it in the old laundry house, which showcases examples of 18th to 20th-century fashion.
Take a tour of Springhill House
Take a guided tour of Springhill House led by one of our experienced tour guides. Discover captivating stories about the family and servants who once called Springhill House their home. House tours do not need to be booked in advance.
Entrance Hall and Stairs
Here in the entrance hall the atmosphere of the original house is most apparent. The staircase with its yew balusters and oak treads is a rare survivor of the late 17th century.
Stairs like this were often replaced as fashions shifted towards more elegant and airy constructions. At Springhill you can still appreciate the craftsmanship and quality of William Conyngham’s fine staircase, intended to convey a sense of solid, long-lasting prosperity.
The Gun Room
The Gun Room, like many of the rooms at Springhill, has had different functions. It was probably the original drawing room. The rare, hand-blocked English wallpaper was manufactured around the 1760s.
During the 19th century the room took on a more masculine use. The wallpaper was covered by oak panelling, lying hidden until 1960 when the National Trust removed one of the panels for maintenance and found the wallpaper still intact behind.
Several of the panels have been removed permanently, displaying the contrast between the elegant décor of the 1700s and the more subdued atmosphere of a 19th-century study for estate business.
The Library
The book collection not only includes three hundred years of reading, but also contains considerable amounts of rare 17th and 18th-century books. The majority of texts are still in their original bindings.
The Library owes much of its existence to the Lenox-Conynghams. In addition to the books of the Conynghams who first built the house, it includes books assembled in the city of Derry by their merchant cousins the Lenoxes, whom they later married into, to combine their names into the Lenox-Conynghams.
Drawing Room
Originally designed as a grand reception room, the airy proportions and large windows reflect the architectural fashions of the day, contrasting strongly with the earlier parts of the house. The floorboards originally stretched from one end of the room to the other without a break.
It was not until the 1820s that this room became a ‘withdrawing room,’ when a new formal dining space for entertaining large numbers of guests was added to the rear of the house.
Dining Room
This room was the last of the main additions to the house. It was built by William Lenox-Conyngham in the 1820s and became the formal entertaining and dining space.
Springhill Events
Visit springhill events listing to find out whats on throughout the different seasons.
The Well Read bookshop
You'll find the second-hand bookshop at Springhill is a great place to steal away some quiet time during a visit.
We have a large selection of fiction and a wide variety of non-fiction including cookery, gardening, history, travel and much more. We also have a lovely children’s corner.
The bookshop at Springhill has been in operation since the 1980’s. The shop is run and cared for entirely by volunteers. A large group of regular customers and contributors have been established. The money raised is used for various projects across the property. Most recently the rejuvenation of the shell house wall in the Dutch Garden, as well as the restoration of dining room chairs in the main house.
Funding conservation
The books are simply priced and generally our suggested donation is £1 for paperback and £2 for hardbacks. All profits from the sale of books go towards our conservation projects across the Springhill estate.
Donate your old books
Without the donation of books; paperbacks, hardbacks, fiction, non-fiction and children's books, we wouldn't be able to keep the shelves stacked and shop going.
If you'd like to donate some books, please give our main office a call on 028 86 748 210 or email springhill@nationaltrust.org.uk to arrange to drop them off, or simply bring them with you on your next visit to Springhill and our welcome staff in Visitor Reception will be happy to help.
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Project
Restoring the Shell House at Springhill
Find out how we're restoring Springhill's iconic shell house to its former glory, thanks to charitable fundraising through our supporters.
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Volunteering at Springhill
Discover volunteering opportunities at Springhill and learn about what volunteering involves.
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Our work at Springhill
Take a look at some of the important conservation work that takes place every day at Springhill to look after this special place.
Houses and buildings
Historic buildings are a treasure trove of stories, art and collections. Learn more about their past and plan your next visit.
Houses and buildings in Northern Ireland
Whether built through a martial disagreement, family rivalry or even a quirky stipulation in a will, each of the houses and buildings in our care has its own unique story to share. From Castle Coole, one of the greatest Neo-classical country houses in Ireland, to The Crown Bar, a masterpiece in pub architecture, intriguing items and fascinating finds speak of centuries ceased and capture a snapshot in time.
Trail
Springhill beech walk
Enjoy a stroll on a historic path leading up to an 18th-century tower through an avenue of beech trees, once a favourite route for the generations that lived at Springhill.