The river is more than a landscape feature in Dunadry: it played a role in mill production and also shapes the area’s nature themes. Buildings from different centuries add to the picture, from a thatched cottage to a railway bridge. Together, they provide a thread to follow during a stay, linking the history of the fort, industrial use and distinctive architecture.

Fort history and mills by the river

In the early 14th century, Dunadry was one of three important feudal strongholds in the County of Antrum; the other two were Antrim and Doagh. In the 17th century, the historic site was known as The Middle Fort (Dun-Eddery). The name refers to its position as the middle of three forts on the road from Tara to Dunseverick. The fort associated with Dunadry stood at the confluence of Rathmore Burn and the Sixmilewater River.

In the 18th century, Daniel Blow founded the paper mill Blow’s Mill within The Middle Fort. The paper mill in Dunadry was converted into a linen mill powered by the Six Mile River; production continued until the 1920s. The site’s history thus illustrates both the importance of the fortifications and the shift from paper to linen production.

Buildings from different periods

The original mill buildings of the Dunadry Inn are still standing. The main building is five bays wide, two storeys high and built of coursed basalt rubble. Dunadry Bridge dates from 1832: it is a three-arch bridge built of dressed stone, with distinctive angled abutment piers.

A different type of bridge is the four-bay Victorian railway bridge, dating from around 1850. It carries the railway over Six Mile Water and Dunadry Road on the route between Templepatrick and Antrim, and is still in use. The contrast is clear: on one side are the three stone arches of Dunadry Bridge, and on the other, the four bays of the railway bridge.

Clady Cottage offers a different architectural feature. The single-storey, two-bay thatched cottage dates from around 1780 and has a fanlight above the front door. Its compact form and thatched roof set it apart from the two-storey main building of the mill buildings.

Six Mile Water, the garden and the Peace Tree

Six Mile Water winds through rolling farmland towards Summerhill. The river is home to river water-crowfoot Ranunculus fluitans, which is protected under the Wildlife Order (NI) 1985. The plant is easiest to see in flower at Dunadry Bridge, around July. If you plan to look for it, obtain permission for access.

The Dunadry Gardens & River Walk runs along the centuries-old millrace on the Six Mile River to the Secret Garden, within the hotel grounds. It is best to check access in advance. The gardens are also home to the Peace Tree: two lime trees have grown together there for more than 100 years. In May 1998, the Peace Tree was photographed with Tony Blair, Lord David Trimble and John Hume, following the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.

Tastings in the historic cellar

The Cellar in Dunadry is located in the original working cellar of the historic hotel and offers private wine and whiskey tastings. If you plan a tasting, arrange a time in advance. This private culinary experience adds a tangible connection to the historic hotel’s present-day use, complementing its architectural and mill history.

Discover more destinations: Templepatrick, Cushendall, Newtownabbey, Crumlin, Larne, Ballymoney, Aldergrove, Antrim

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