Bellaghy Village was one of the first planned towns in Ireland, built on land owned by a London company, Vintners.
This 17th Century Bawn at Bellaghy is the best restored example to be found anywhere in Northern Ireland. The Original Bawn was virtually destroyed in the 1641 rebellion when the greater part of Bellaghy was burnt to the ground.
Exhibits inside this restored, fortified house of 1618 include local history, the Ulster Plantation and the writings of Bellaghy-born poet Seamus Heaney.
The Vintners Company fortified house and bawn, was opened to the public in 1996. Inside there are exhibitions on local history, and on poetry by local Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney, described as "the most important Irish poet since Yeats" who grew up in Bellaghy and much of his work reflects life there.
Standard Opening times
- Easter to end of September - 10am to 6pm daily,
- October to Easter - Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm and Sunday 12-4pm