Brookhall Historical Farm

Wedding Venue With Historical Associations

A restored building, believed to be on or near the site of the original 12th century church is now licensed and available for weddings.

Farm Woman Of The Year

Mrs Pauline Johnston, joint proprietor of Brookhall (with her husband, Sam), was awarded Farm Woman of the Year, 2002. This is sponsored by the Ulster Farmers' Union, Irish Farmers' Association, Bank of Ireland and Irish Farmers' Journal, and promotes the vital role of women in Irish farming.

Step back in time and enjoy the peace and tranquility of a beautiful estate. When you visit Brookhall you will be entering a stress-free zone.

What's To See:

• Historic, restored building near the site of the original 12th Century church
• Farm Museum containing implements of a bygone era
• Farm animals and rare breeds
• Over 100 year-old pear tree

What's To Enjoy:

• Tea, coffee, scones, traybakes or light lunches & snacks in our new Tea Barn (old world charm)
• Evening outings a specialty
• Tranquility of the magnificent landscaped gardens and water fountain
• Self-catering holiday and business cottages
• Beautiful countryside and wooded area around Magheragall

Tea Barn open all year round for private bookings only

Private tours and school groups welcome by appointment

Evening appointments available. Special rates for groups. Now specialising in seminars and conferences - Brookhall Weddings: www.brookhallweddings.com

Farm Animals (including some rare or uncommon breeds!)

Visitors will see the animals, including some rare or unfamiliar breeds, in their natural environment - in the fields and farmyard - while enjoying a walk around the farm. We are in the south county Antrim countryside just 3 miles from Lisburn city.

In the fields by the lakeside you will see our Limousin cattle. This breed may be as old as our presence on the European continent and features in the Lascaux Cave drawings near Montignac, France, estimated to be 20,000 years old.

Heather, our Highland cow is a valued member of the farm animal family. The Highlander is one of the oldest and hardiest breed of cattle and has remained almost unchanged over its pedigree history. References to it go back to the 13th century.

Children especially love Bertie, our little African pygmy goat. This breed is well known for being playful and affectionate. Our pedigree miniature Shetland pony is also popular with children, who aren't afraid of a small pony their own size!

On the other hand you will see - but probably not get very close to - our Vietnamese pot bellied pigs. These animals are very shy and scamper at the sight or sound of strangers!

You will probably be welcomed to the farm by Bert and Busby, the two pygmy goats, or see our Jacob sheep in the fields or Jack the donkey - or the ducks, chickens and pet rabbits.

As this is a working farm, our animals arrive and leave us regularly - the foregoing represents a "snapshot in time".

Brookhall's 400 Year History

The farm house (not open to the public) dates back some 400 years and featured in the religious and political turmoil of Ulster in the 1640s.

Earlier still, church records from the 13th century refer to a church, believed to be on or near this site. The ancient place-name, Drum-cil - meaning "the mound of the church" - survives locally in "Drumsill Road".

In 1210 the church was mentioned in what are purported to be taxation documents of pope Nicholas, which report that the site was granted to the local bishop by a chieftain called Engusa MacMailraba.

A restored building (photo above right), believed to be on or near the site of the original church, is now licensed and available for weddings. For details contact www.brookhallweddings.com

During the war of 1641, the main house and the church were burned to the ground. Around 1750 the house was restored by the Watson family, who lived there until 1989.

Brookhall Historical Farm is recognised by the local council as a tourist attraction and is signposted by the the distinctive "white on brown" road signs.

Farm Museum

The farm implements and machinery on display are typical of those used by local Northern Ireland farmers in the early and mid 20th century.

You will see planting, harvesting and processing machinery and implements - some from an era when animal food was mainly processed on the farm.

The potato digger was originally horse-drawn but from the 1950s was more commonly fitted to a tractor. In October, country schools provided annual "potato holidays" for local children and young people to assist in collecting the potato crop.

Oil cake, a by-product of rape seed oil, was used as animal feed but had to be broken in the cake breaker before feeding.

The milk churn was a feature of many farms, some of which supplied the local population with "country butter". You will also see an example of the patterns used to "stamp" each farm's butter with its own unique design.

The grain mill was used to grind whole grain into smaller particles suitable for feeding to animals.