White House, County Down facts for kids

The White House is an old, ruined house from the 1600s. You can find it in Ballyspurge, a place near Cloghy in County Down, Northern Ireland. It's located on the Ards Peninsula.

It's about one mile (1.2 km) south-east of Cloghy, looking out over Slanes Bay. This old house is now a special historic monument, cared for by the state. Its exact location is grid ref: J6248 5506.

History of The White House

The White House was built a long time ago, in the 1600s. One story says that a man named Patrick Savage built it. His father, Roland Savage, passed away in 1640. Roland left different parts of his land to his sons. Patrick received the land called Ballyspurge. He then built The White House there.

However, other records suggest that Roland Savage himself might have built the house around 1634. He was part of the important Ardkeen family. So, while we know it was built by the Savage family in the 1600s, the exact builder is a bit of a mystery!

What The White House Looks Like

The White House was built with a special design. It had a pointed roof, which is called a gabled roof. The walls were very thick, which was common for houses built in the 1600s.

Defensive Features

Even though it was a home, it had some features for protection. The thick walls had small openings called pistol-loops. These were tiny holes that people could shoot through if they needed to defend the house.

House Structure

The building is rectangular and stands about 1.5 stories high. This means it had one main floor and an attic space above it. The windows were quite large, which made the house feel more like a comfortable home than a strong fort.

The Bawn and Gatehouse

The White House was surrounded by what's left of a bawn. A bawn was like a simple walled farmyard. It helped protect the house and the people living there. This bawn also had a gatehouse, which was a small building at the entrance. Unlike some other defensive walls, this bawn did not have big towers on the sides.

Inside The House

On the ground floor, there were two main rooms. These were probably a hall and a kitchen. Both rooms had large fireplaces, which were important for cooking and keeping warm. The attic floor, which was likely used for bedrooms, also had its own fireplaces.