The Steeple, Antrim, Co Antrim 

Mark Bence-Jones. A Guide to Irish Country Houses (originally published as Burke’s Guide to Country Houses volume 1 Ireland by Burke’s Peerage Ltd. 1978); Revised edition 1988 Constable and Company Ltd, London. 

p. 264. “An elegant two storey early C19 house with an eaved roof on a deep cornice. Entrance front with two curved bows and a Tuscan porch which may have been added later; five bay side. Plaster-vaulted hall, divided by screen of three fluted Doric columns with entablature from curving staircase. Formerly the seat of the Clarke family; now the offices of Antrim RDC.” 

http://www.nihgt.org/resources/pdf/Register_of_Parks_Gardens_Demesnes-NOV20.pdf 

THE STEEPLE, County Antrim (AP ANTRIM AND NEWTOWNABBEY 01) AN/125 
REGISTERED GRADE B 
The gentleman’s residence of circa 1819 (Listed HB 20/09/002) is set above well maintained grass 
terracing in flat parkland (registered area 18.5 acres/7.5ha), with clumps of mature trees and 
shelter belt planting, located 0.8 miles (1.3km) north-east of Antrim Main-street. House was burnt 
in 2019 and parkland that now survives is only a fraction of its former size when laid out in the 
Regency period for William Clarke, for his fine new two-storey stuccoed house with oversailing 
pitched roof, full-height bows and Tuscan portico. It replaced (on a different site) a modest 
dwelling here owned by the Jackson family, who had owned the property since the 17th century. 
In the 1830s the OS Memoirs make reference to the ‘… pretty shrubberies of evergreens and two 
very neat and well laid out flower gardens…’ (OSM 1835) which have not survived. The Early 
Christian monastic round tower in the grounds was photographed by the local. W. A. Green in the 
early years of the 20th century, showing ornamental planting around it; this tower and the whole 
south part of the park is scheduled (AN 050:008/050:009). The former walled garden, where the 
ballaun stone rested, has now been built over. There are two gate lodges which Dean suggests 
are c.1845, but could be late 1820s; these are the North and South Lodges, both lie on the east 
side. The Clarke family remained here until 1929 when it was sold to a Mr. Fawcett and acquired 
by Antrim Rural District Council in 1956 for use as offices. SMR: ANT 50:8 ballaun stone, 50:9 
round tower, 50:128 antiquity? The house was for a time the headquarters of Antrim Borough 
Council; unfortunately it was burnt to a shell on the morning of 2 July 2019. Public are admitted 
to the grounds. SMR 050:008 (ballaun); 050: 007 (settlement site) & 050:009 (Ecclesiastical site)- 
State Care and Scheduled.