Springhill House
Built in the 17th century, this picturesque manor house was home to ten generations of the Conyngham family, originally from Ayrshire in England, until 1957 when a Captain William Lennox – Conyngham passed the house and its contents to the National Trust. Today visitors can experience how life was in the 17th for the first of the Conyngham’s to live in the large stately home, with staff dressed in typical costumes of the time, summer festivities are held in the gardens and a tour around the house itself will entertain to no end. The house was built to appease the father of a Miss Ann Upton who was married to Will Conyngham. The father wanted to ensure that his 16 year-old daughter would be living in a manner she was accustomed to and so Conyngham built the original house to meet his requirements. The house was further extended in later years, but was still large enough to originally to please Conyngham’s Father in Law.
The reason why Springhill is so popular today with visitors, local and from afar is that the house is notoriously haunted. It is said that in the year 1841, George Lennox- Conyngham was away on army duties when he got news that his children had been incapacitated with small pox, to find how they were he abandoned post to return home to Springhill to see how his children were. On the way he met a good friend and commanding officer, Robert Stewart. Conyngham was sure his friend would understand his worry and proceeded to Springhill. When he reached home he was to find that his wife Olivia had nursed each child back to good health and relief washed over him. However, it wasn’t long before he was court-martialled for abandoning his post on the night; his good friend had betrayed him dreadfully. This, then with the sudden death of one of his daughters soon after, didn’t help and he went into a fit of depression. Then two years later George Lennox-Conyngham went to the ‘Blue Room’, drew his pistol and ended his life. Olivia had just reached the door as the sound of the gun went off and witnesses claim that they still see her ghost dashing to the Blue Room door to save her beloved husband from his peril.
The intriguing history and the beautiful gardens and walkways which surround the house make a visit to Springhill a delightful experience. Enjoyed by children for its adventure trail play park and the history and scenery for the adults it makes an ideal day out for all the family.