Brownlow House

Brownlow House stands in Lurgan, Northern Ireland, as a Grade A listed 19th-century mansion. Scottish architect William Henry Playfair designed it in 1833 for Charles Brownlow, the first Baron Lurgan. The three-storey building served as a family home before becoming a military headquarters in both world wars. It later passed to the Lurgan Loyal Orange District Lodge, which still owns it today. After an arson attack in 1996, the house was carefully restored with help from experts who had worked on Windsor Castle. Two museums now occupy parts of the building, one dedicated to the First World War and another to the Second. The house is worth the journey because of its military past and architectural importance. During the First World War it housed the 16th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles and the 10th Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers. In the Second World War American troops used it as a base. The museums in the basement tell these stories through exhibits that opened in 2014 and 2015. The restoration after the 1996 fire showed how seriously the building’s history is taken. Its continued use by the Orange Order adds another layer to its story. Visitors find a grand entrance hall with high ceilings and ornate plasterwork. The First World War museum displays uniforms, weapons and photographs from the battalions that were based here. The Second World War exhibition includes equipment used by American soldiers and details about Northern Ireland’s role in supporting the armies. Outside, the house sits in well-kept grounds with mature trees and a gravel driveway. The exterior walls are of grey stone, giving the place a solid, imposing presence. Inside, the main staircase and drawing rooms retain much of their original character.