About
The Winter family were recorded in Ballyhagan Quaker meetings in 1665. John Winter and his wife had 9 children, some of the family emigrated to Pennsylvania around 1700, one son John married and leased the farm that the Winter family still work today. The farmhouse came to fame following the Battle of the Diamond on 21st September 1795, it was in the sitting room of this farmhouse that the men met to discuss the forming of the Orange Order, which spread quickly across the world. Visitors have called at the house since that very first meeting requesting information about the Battle and the Orange Order.
The 200th anniversary of the Battle and the formation in 1995 brought visitors from around the world, over 3000 visitors signed the visitors book for that year. It was decided to restore the farmhouse to its original thatched roof (corrugated iron had been put over the original thatch about 1920) and repair the walls by making our own home made brick using the original red clay, drying the brick on the griddle over a turf fire. The small windows had been built up in 1920 (these can be seen in pictures taken at the restoration) and replaced by larger sash windows, tiles made by D. Devlin of Ulster Works Coalisland around 1888 were put on the earthen floor in the kitchen and still remain also the wooden floors.
The family built a new farmhouse and move in 1953 leaving a lot of original clothing, these are on display in a small bedroom as is the old family hand made quilt there is also a chaff tick a (mattress) on the bed. The family 1903 pram has been restored, The old black oak chair that came with the family pre 1665 is in the sitting room as is the old carved sideboard.
On display are old artifacts such as the barrel churn and milk separator, a magnifying glass for inspecting the threads to the inch of the home made linen (the family were recorded as farmer weavers). Old relics from the Battle of the Diamond which includes lead shot that had never been used, these had been found in the roof space of the house in 1995 and were authenticated by a member of the Ulster Museum. Farm machinery and implements, an old Iron Horse used before the tractor was produced, a 1956 Wolsely 444 car, 1964 Post Office van, 1971 David Brown Tractor are on display in the out-housing at the farmyard.
We have been giving talks and tours since 1995 also help with family research, especially visitors from abroad who are so pleased to see a house just similar to what their ancestors had lived in and to look at townland maps and see their family name written on the map.
Book Tickets
Guide Prices
| Ticket Type | Ticket Tariff |
|---|---|
| Ticket | Free |
Note: Prices are a guide only and may change on a daily basis.
