List of Grade A listed buildings in County Fermanagh facts for kids

County Fermanagh is a county in Northern Ireland.

Welcome to County Fermanagh! This article is all about some very special buildings here. They are called 'Grade A listed buildings' because they are super important to Northern Ireland's history and architecture. Think of them as historical treasures that need to be protected for everyone to enjoy.

What are Listed Buildings?

A listed building is a structure that has been officially chosen because it has "special architectural or historic interest." This means it's either really beautiful or has an important story from the past.

There are different levels of importance for these buildings:

• Grade B buildings are important.
• Grade B+ buildings are even more important.
• Grade A buildings are the most important! They are the best examples of different building styles and periods in Northern Ireland. These are the ones we'll focus on in County Fermanagh.

Why Do We List Buildings?

Listing buildings helps to protect them. It means that people can't just change or knock down these special places without permission. This protection started later in Northern Ireland than in other parts of the UK. The first laws to protect buildings here came out in 1972. Now, the main law is called the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991.

The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) is the group in charge of finding and listing these buildings. They work hard to make sure our history is saved.

How Buildings Get Listed

To find these special buildings, the NIEA started a big survey in 1974. This was called the "First Survey." It took a long time, finishing in 1994. After that, they started a "Second Survey" to update all the information and check everything again. This helps them keep track of all the important buildings, both listed and unlisted.

The NIEA has special rules to decide if a building is important enough to be listed. They look at things like how old it is, its design, and if anything important happened there.

Once a building is listed, it's protected. If someone wants to change a listed building, even just a little bit, they need to get special permission from the local council. This makes sure that the building's special features are kept safe.

There are about 8,500 listed buildings in Northern Ireland. That's about 2% of all the buildings! Out of these, only about 200 are given the top "Grade A" status.

County Fermanagh's Special Buildings

County Fermanagh is a beautiful area, covering about 1,691 square kilometers. Around 57,500 people live here. Even though it's not the biggest county, it's home to nine amazing Grade A listed buildings. These buildings show off the rich history and architecture of the area.

Here are the Grade A listed buildings you can find in County Fermanagh:

• Knockballymore House, near Magheraveely, Enniskillen. This is a historic house that has been given the highest protection.

• Crom Castle, Newtownbutler. This is a grand country house with a long history. It's a beautiful example of old architecture.

Crom Castle is a beautiful country house.

• Conservatory at Colebrook Kitchen Garden, Colebrook, Brookeborough. This is a special glass house that was part of a kitchen garden. It's unique and important for its design.

• Cottage at Corry Townland, Teemore, Derrylin. This is a historic cottage that shows how people used to live. It's a great example of traditional housing.

• Florence Court, near Enniskillen. This is another magnificent country house. It's known for its stunning architecture and beautiful grounds.

Florence Court is a grand country house.

• House at 175 Boho Road, Mullylusty, Belcoo, Enniskillen. This house is a significant example of its type, showing important architectural features.

This historic house is located on Boho Road.

• St. Macartin's Cathedral, Church Street, Enniskillen. This is a very important church in Enniskillen. Cathedrals are often listed because of their grand design and historical role.

St. Macartin's Cathedral in Enniskillen.

• Castle Coole, Enniskillen. This is a stunning country house, considered one of the finest examples of Neoclassical architecture in Ireland.

Castle Coole is a beautiful Neoclassical country house.

• General Cole Column, Fort Hill, Enniskillen. This is a memorial column, a tall monument built to remember someone important. It's a significant landmark in Enniskillen.

The General Cole Column in Enniskillen.

These nine buildings are key parts of County Fermanagh's heritage. They remind us of the past and help us understand the history of Northern Ireland.