Grey Abbey House specialises in hosting historical, architectural and horticultural groups and we are able to provide lunch, tea and dinner by arrangement. Overlooking Strangford Lough on the Ards Peninsula in County Down, Northern Ireland, Grey Abbey House and its gardens benefit from a temperate climate which supports a plethora of unusual flora and fauna. The Estate also owns three islands on the Lough which are leased to The National Trust. The ruins of a Cistercian Abbey lie adjacent to the Estate’s grounds. Church Hill, to the south of the Abbey, is believed to be one of the first landscaped parks in Ireland. Detailed information Read more [...]

Grey Abbey Bay Situated on the shores of Strangford Lough the small village of Grey Abbey has evidence of being inhabited for thousands of years.   An Archaeological study of the area discovered an ancient dugout canoe in Greyabbey Bay dated to be some 4500 years B.C. That makes it older than the pyramids of Egypt! Remains of medieval fish traps can also be found in the bay dating from the 8th to 13th Century.   One of the islands in the bay “Chapel Island” has the remains of what is believed to be an Anglo-Norman church possibly related to Movilla Read more [...]

Grey Abbey This historic building dating from 1193 is one of Ireland’s most impressive examples of early gothic architecture. The remains of the Abbey are situated in beautiful parkland on the outskirts of our village.   In 1193 at the instigation of Affreca, the wife of John de Courcy, work was commenced on the building of a Cistercian Abbey at what is now known as Greyabbey in County Down. Tradition tells us that Affreca founded the abbey to give thanks for a safe landing after a perilous journey at sea. When founded the Abbey was known as Iugem Dei or Read more [...]