Historic Environment - Introduction and Overview

Our Borough has a rich historic environment, which forms an important part of the character and appearance of our towns, villages, hamlets and countryside. It is comprised of a wide range of heritage assets including distinctive historic landscapes and townscapes, archaeological sites, scheduled monuments and buildings listed for their special architectural or historic interest. This rich historic environment provides a physical historic record of the social, economic and cultural development of our Borough. Notable assets include the Shanes Castle estate, Antrim Castle Gardens, Sentry Hill, the White House, Merville Garden Village Conservation Area and the State Care Monuments of Castle Lug and Springfarm Rath. The Council acknowledges the growing role that the historic environment has played in benefitting the Borough's economy in recent years through the growth of the tourism sector. The Council also recognises the important role that continued protection of our heritage assets can have in furthering sustainable development and enhancing the quality of life of our residents through successful placemaking, maintaining local distinctiveness and enhancing our Borough's public realm. Careful management and ongoing investment in our historic environment will help to create unique, attractive and welcoming places to live, work and relax in and contribute significantly to our Borough's sense of place.