The Argory – a house lit by gas

Overview

The Argory was never wired for mains electricity. From 1906 it made its own acetylene gas on site to light the rooms, and ran on it until the early 1980s, so the chandeliers and wall sconces you see inside are the real working fixtures rather than reproductions. The house is a restrained neo-classical block of ashlar limestone, built between 1820 and 1824 for the magistrate Walter MacGeough Bond, set on a hillside above the River Blackwater in a 130-hectare (320-acre) estate of formal gardens and parkland. The National Trust runs it now.

History

Walter MacGeough Bond built the house because his father’s will required it: a stipulation that he construct a house on the family lands. He gave the commission to the Dublin architects Arthur and John Williamson, working in the office of Francis Johnston, and the Greek-Revival house was finished in 1824.

A serious fire in 1898 destroyed the north wing and damaged the barrel organ installed only two years earlier. The wing was rebuilt, and in 1906 the house was fitted with its acetylene gas-lighting system, a genuinely advanced choice for a country house at the time.

The MacGeough Bond family lived here for more than a century, the house doubling as a wartime hospital during the Second World War. After the death of Captain Walter Albert Nevill ‘Tommy’ MacGeough Bond, the estate passed to the National Trust in 1979, along with a large archive of letters, photographs and personal papers.

More recently the Northern Irish artist Kevin Killen installed a neon light piece inspired by the glow of the old acetylene lamps, first shown in a special exhibition and now a fixture of the visit.

What to see and do

The house

The interiors have survived largely unchanged since the early 1900s: original wallpapers, period furniture and the family’s own effects. Highlights:

• The barrel organ – three surviving barrels are played during guided tours.
• The Doomer cabinet – a 17th-century Dutch piece that once featured in the Rijksmuseum.
• Acetylene lighting fixtures – the rare gas chandeliers and sconces.
• Cantilever staircase and gilt-framed family portraits.
• Stable yard, laundry yard and coach house – open to show how a 19th-century estate ran.

Gardens and grounds

The pleasure gardens are at their best in early spring, with snowdrops, rhododendrons and a curated ‘Springer’ collection. Key features:

• Rose garden with clipped box hedges and a Victorian sundial dating to 1833.
• Two yew arbours and two ornamental pavilions for shade.
• Walled garden that once grew the house’s produce.
• Lime Tree Walk – an avenue of pollarded limes leading to a wild-flower meadow.
• Adventure playground and an environmental sculpture trail.
• The Courtyard Café for light lunches, scones and tea.
• Second-hand bookshop and an artisan pop-up shop, the Coach House Collective.

For families

• Balance bikes from the visitor reception for younger children.
• The Light Box – an interactive space about the story of light, with neon art to make.
• Children’s trail – a self-guided walk with quizzes and activity stations.
• Natural wooden play area by the main car park, plus a dog-play zone.

Walks

Two way-marked trails cover the grounds. The River Walk follows the Blackwater, where kingfishers turn up; it crosses Bond’s Bridge, which is closed to pedestrians at weekends, so check before you set off if that’s the route you want. The Lime Tree Walk runs through the lime avenue, past the oak plantation and meadow, and takes walkers, runners and dogs.

Events

The Argory runs a steady calendar through the year:

• Easter trail – family activities and an egg hunt in the gardens.
• 10k family and adult run – the fourth Sunday of each month.
• Summer fete – two days in late June with crafts, food stalls and live music.
• Music sessions – occasional barrel-organ demonstrations and traditional music.
• Themed tours – Christmas, Halloween and heritage talks.

Practical information

Getting there – The Argory is 3 miles from the M1 (exits 13 or 14). On-site parking, including Blue Badge spaces, is about 100 yards from the house. By bike it is on National Cycle Network Route 95 (7 miles). By bus, take the Ulsterbus 67 (Portadown to Dungannon), alight at Charlemont and walk 2½ miles. The nearest train station is Portadown.

Opening times – Grounds: 11.00am–5.00pm daily. House, café and bookshop: weekends only (check the National Trust website for exact times). Bond’s Bridge is closed to pedestrians at weekends.

Admission – Tickets are bought at the gate; advance booking is advised, especially at weekends. The catch worth knowing is that the house, café and bookshop open only at weekends, so a midweek visit is grounds and gardens alone.

Facilities – Car park, bike rack, toilets including a fully accessible one, baby-changing, Wi-Fi, mobility scooter hire and a dog-play area. Dogs are welcome on leads.

Accessibility – The house and main garden routes are wheelchair-friendly, with alternative routes avoiding the steep slopes. Detailed guide: https://www.accessable.co.uk/armagh-city-banbridge-and-craigavon-borough-council/access-guides/the-argory-gardens-and-mansion-house.

Contact – Phone: +44 28 8778 4753. Email: argory@nationaltrust.org.uk.

Nearby attractions

• Ardress House – another National Trust house, with Georgian interiors.
• Armagh Observatory & Planetarium – astronomy displays and the Astropark walks.
• Armagh City – the cathedral city, with its Mall.
• Craigavon Lakes – walking and cycling routes around the lakes.

If you have only an hour, the acetylene-lit interiors are the thing the Argory has that no other house nearby does. Time it for a weekend, when the house is open.