Transforming Hillsborough Castle

Speaker John Baird, Programme Sponsor for Historical Royal Palaces, Hillsborough Castle, gave a very interesting, wide-ranging and well illustrated talk Monday 25 July on the £20 million programme and project plans for the creation of their new visitor facilities as a major visitor attraction, showcasing NI with conferences and weddings whilst still being a living royal residence.

Welcome and visitor facilities (coffee shop etc.) will be created at a new entrance from the M1 and in the Stable Yard buildings; the 1st floor of which will be turned into a Clore Learning Centre with facilities for schools, families, youth and community groups for talks and workshops etc. Internally the entrance Hall has already been transformed and the State Apartments will be re-presented, access will also be enabled to the 1st floor and 'below stairs'. In the gardens 4 acre walled garden and river walk will be re-constituted. It is expected to be completed by and open to the public by 2019.