In a rural townland just outside Armagh City is Dan Winters House and Farmyard, home of the Winter family since 1665. This listed building was made famous following the Battle of the Diamond where the decision to form the Orange Order was taken in the sitting room of the house on 21st September 1795. The house is located 240 yards from the Diamond Crossroads and has been welcoming visitors from across the world for over 200 years.
The Orange Order came into existence after the Battle of the Diamond, near Loughgall, on 21st September 1795. A monument has been erected to commemorate the Battle, dedicated on the Two Hundredth Anniversary of the formation of the Orange Order, 21st September 1995. The ancestral home in the farmyard, called “Dan Winter’s House” – The Birthplace of Orangeism is just a few yards from the actual monument. The battlefield and the cottage are still owned by direct descendants and are open daily for visitors.
This early 18th century listed vernacular farmhouse was re-thatched and restored in 2000 with a large proportion of the original fabric having been conserved. The cottage has been maintained by the Winter family down the years, and on display are relics from the Battle of the Diamond and old farming and dairy artefacts. The original timber, used to build the cottage, has just been dated to reveal this is probably one of the last houses to use Irish Oak as a building timber.
During your visit, join a member of the Winter family in the welcoming surroundings of the old sitting room. Sit around a turf fire and hear about how the Winter family lived, take a stroll around the original farm buildings in the farmyard where artefacts on display include vintage farm machinery or enjoy a tasty treat at the traditional tearooms.
