Cruck & Truss

Wednesday 25th July

We do seem to be doing a lot of NT properties just lately, well there are rather a lot along the Causeway Coastal Route. Not far from Gortmore and that fabulous viewpoint was a place called Downhill Demesne. The mansion was built in the 18th century but was destroyed by fire in 1851. After it was rebuilt in 1870's it fell into disrepair after the second world war and NT acquired the property in 1980.

The Dovecote and still in residence, a pigeon chick

Much of the cliffs are covered in chains to stop rock fall. This chap abseiling down was checking those chains.

A view to admire. No wonder the mansion was built here.

 Also part of the entrance fee was a visit to Hazlett House. The thatched cottage has an early timber frame dating from 1690, making it one of the oldest domestic buildings in Northern Ireland. Built as a rectory for the local church it was bought by the Hazletts in 1761

NT bought it the house because of the family history and also because the construction was very unusual. It is called Cruck and Truss construction which means the house has no foundations, the walls are not load bearing and the whole house is held up on wooden timbers which form arches and are spaced out down the house.

15 Farm hands slept here, mainly young boys.

 As I was desperate to get some washing done it was decided to find a proper campsite for the night. Found one near to the Bushmills distillery, a quiet site apart from a dog in the next field barking every time anyone walks by. So two wash loads done and with the weather today being warm and sunny (not the UK temperatures but a very pleasant 21 deg) the whole lot dried on the line.

So obviously we are going to the distillery but also the rope bridge, Carrick-a-Rede, and Giants Causeway.