Hezlett House and Garden in Ireland

And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and we supposed that our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some.  Alma 26:30

Countryside on the way to see one of the oldest thatched cottage left standing in Northern Ireland

The Hezlett House was built in 1691.  Originally built as a rectory, it served as such until it was bought by the Hezlett family in 1776.  Isaac Hezlett, who bought the house, operated it as a small farm and it continued to be the Hezlett family home for the next 200 years.  During the 1798 Rebellion, two half-brothers were on opposing sides.  When Samuel refused to join the United Irishmen, his brother, Jack, threatened to hand him from the Spanish Chestnut tree in the garden.

The uniqueness of the cottage lies in its rare cruck frame, a design more common in England.  The crucks were joined together to form the skeleton of the house and the walls then filled in with whatever material was available locally.  

A cruck or crook frame is curved timber that generally is bent to lean inwards to form the ridge of the roof.  Read more in Wikipedia, if you would like more historical information.

We were not allowed to take pictures of the inside, but it was quite roomy with an upstairs area for sleeping, along with other bedrooms downstairs.

A welcoming corner of the cottage

Very old tree and the wall around the cottage

This is a fairly large place compared even to some of the homes we've been in whilst (UK language) visiting people when on our mission.

I like how there's a fancy curve over the one door.

Though this bike looks old, I don't think hand breaks were invented until the late 1800's or early 1900's.

Very lovely and welcoming.

More modern building are in the back of the cottage with this community garden.