The farmhouse at Millknock was built some time in the late 18th or early 19th century. We can't be sure exactly when, but we do have evidence of the Boxwell family (distant relatives) living here as far back as the 1840's. The house originally had a thatched roof, like so many of the houses in the area at that time.
For more than 100 years very little about the house changed.
However, in the 20th century the world was changing, and the house had to be updated to reflect this.
The 1950's saw the introduction of electricity for the first time, and this was the beginning of many changes over the next 60 years.
In 1970 the rear extension was built to accommodate an indoor toilet and bathroom in the farmhouse for the first time. The sun room at the front of the house was also rebuilt at this time.
In 1978 the old thatched roof was removed. While a thatched roof looks very pretty, it is highly impractical - insurance costs are too high because of the risk of fire, it needs re-thatching every 2 years, and it is an ideal home for birds and mice. The height of the walls was also raised to provide more headroom in the upstairs accommodation, and more (and bigger) windows were built to bring more light in upstairs, before a new slate roof was constructed. Central heating was installed in the house at this time also. Prior to this there had been just one radiator (at the top of the stairs), a range cooker in the kitchen, and an open fire in the living room.
In 1998 the kitchen was replaced, the central heating was upgraded, and a second bathroom was installed. Throughout the past 30 years work has been ongoing on the gardens, which were originally part of a field.
The pictures below were taken in the 1800's, and the 1970's.
And here is the rosemary plant growing in the flower bed beside the patio.
