Gracehill Village Gracehill Village

On 13th February 2013 the permanent secretary at the Department of the Environment, Mr Leo O’Reilly visited Gracehill and symbolically handed over the keys of Gracehill Old Shop to Gracehill Old School Trust. The Old Shop is a purpose built shop constructed for the settlement in 1787.

The building is two storey with attics and basement and the layout is much as it was when originally constructed. The central shop area still contains many original features including shelving built into the walls and counters. The storage areas and living accommodation are constructed around the shop and also contain many original features including an unusual large wooden winch wheel for drawing stores up to the attic.

The building had not functioned as a shop for approximately 30 years and has been uninhabited for several years following the death of its owners, the Gillen family, the last postmasters in Gracehill.

In response to the community’s desire to retain the village’s strong architectural heritage and enhance the potential of the conservation area, the Trust developed a scheme to regenerate this unique building in a meaningful, viable and sustainable manner. The aim was to restored the shop and stores to something like they may have been in the eighteenth century and the remainder of the building then to be converted to holiday accommodation.

The first step however was to secure ownership of the building and thanks to funding provided by Ballymena Borough Council and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency this was achieved.

Speaking after the transfer of ownership David Johnston, chairman of Gracehill Old School Trust said, “This important and historic building could so easily have been lost. The physical, psychological and social benefits in terms of community spirit, regeneration, job creation and tourism, of conservation projects such as this are self-evident. Such is the power and potential of our built heritage. We are grateful to everyone for their support thus far and to the Department of the Environment and Ballymena Borough Council for funding us.”

Subsequently the Trust commissioned assessments of the building, and developed plans which were sympathetic to the historic environment all the while seeking funding. A number of funders and partners were unable to proceed due to the economic climate and some of the onsite work also coincided with the pandemic. Eventually, however the building was made watertight and restored and it is once again welcoming visitors.

One of the restored guest bedrooms in the Old Shop

The purchase, restoration and re-purposing of the historic old shop building in Gracehill was made possible by a cocktail of funding. Funders included the Department of the Environment, Ballymena Borough Council and Ulster Garden Villages. Significant funding from the Village Catalyst Pilot along with Trust fundraising allowed the final phases of the project to succeed.

Restored winch wheel in the attic store.