Tucked in amongst the trees behind the Team Corsa at Killysorrell, is the rather lovely Ashfield House with the adjoining outbuildings, which saw action during the days of the once thriving Linen Industry.
An 18th Century, Three-Bay Two-Storey 'Gentleman's Residence', Ashfield House is the oldest surviving house of the Lindsay family of Tullyhenan and was built by Maurice Lindsay in the 1760's.
His son David set-up and established a manufacturing business in 1828 for weaving heavy fabrics by hand loom, and by 1839 he employed 950 weavers (mostly working in their own homes with materials supplied by the Lindsays) in the manufacture of linens, unions and cottons.
Prior to this, David bought his linens at country markets and had them bleached, with commission being charged on over half his products by selling agents at The Linen Hall in Dublin at over 3%, manufacturing his own linen proved to be a more profitable enterprise for David.
After David Lindsay's death in 1859, the business was carried on by his son Maurice who sadly died at a young age (35), and Ashfield House, Ashfield Village (21 houses) and Lands were sold at auction at 2pm on 26th March 1878 in the Downshire Arms Hotel in Banbridge.
The house is still occupied to this day and the property is a beautiful place of quiet solitude.
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