Navigation House

Navigation House was built in 1866 as the residence of the manager of the Lagan Canal, and remained in that use till the last superintendant of the canal left in 1954 and the canal was closed. Having previously restored two of the 18th century lockhouses on the canal, Hearth was delighted to be able to assist the Lagan Navigation Trust in their project to restore the house along with the adjoining Union Locks and lockkeeper’s cottage at Sprucefield near Lisburn.

Hearth acquired the house, which was by then a building at risk and had been spot-listed, with the assistance of a loan from Ulster Garden Villages. The house was then brought into sound repair and temporary planning permission obtained to enable the Trust to use the house as their offices. Their eventual plan is to acquire the building from Hearth and convert the ground floor into a museum in connection with the Navigation, along with additional development of the stable and grounds.