Lissan House

17th-century estate house of the Staples baronets, partially restored and open to visitors

Lissan House, about 5 kilometres north of Cookstown on the Lissan estate, is a historic country house dating from the 17th century that served as the seat of the Staples baronets for over 300 years. The house is now managed by a preservation trust and is open to visitors on a seasonal basis. The interest lies partly in the architecture — a succession of periods layered onto the original structure — and partly in the survival of the original contents, which give an unusually direct sense of a family's accumulated life.

The estate grounds include formal gardens and woodland walks that are pleasant regardless of whether the house is open. The wider Lissan demesne is a good area for walking, with paths along the Lissan Water stream. Check opening times in advance as the house operates on limited hours and booking may be required.

things to do sight historic house
A story
Lissan House was the home of the Staples family from the 17th century until 2012. The last occupant, Hazel Radclyffe Dolling, lived alone in the large house without central heating for decades, keeping it as her family had always kept it. When she died, she left the house and its contents — original furniture, portraits, and accumulated possessions of 350 years — to a preservation trust. Visiting feels less like a heritage experience than like walking into someone's home the day after they left.