Mid and East Antrim: Ancestral cottage admission dropped despite visitor increase
Mid and East Antrim councillors have agreed to drop admission charges at one of its tourist attractions despite an increase in visitors.
The council’s Neighbourhoods and Communities Committee was told although footfall at President Arthur Homestead, Cullybackey, has risen, income has decreased from £1,127 in the 2024/25 financial year to £798 in 2025/26.
The number of visitors to President Arthur Homestead was 1,504 during the last financial year and 1,165 in 2024/25. Footfall figures for 2025/26 included workshop participants. The cost of admission is £4.20 for adults and £3.15 for children aged between six and 16 years.
It is one of two thatched cottages in the borough with links to former US presidents. The ancestral home of the 21st US president Chester Alan Arthur was where his father William Arthur lived before he emigrated to America in 1815.
There is no entrance charge to Andrew Jackson Cottage, Boneybefore, outside Carrickfergus. Visitors to the cottage have been increasing since 2023/24 when there were 3,062; 2024/25, 3,211 and 2025/26, 3,528. Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States, was born in Boneybefore.
Speaking at the committee meeting on Tuesday, Carrickfergus Castle DUP Alderman Billy Ashe MBE queried the drop in income at President Arthur Homestead despite an increase in visitors.
He noted there has been “substantial investment” at the visitor attraction, formerly known as Arthur Cottage, on the basis, he said, it would “increase income and get some sort of return”. The refurbishment was supported by funding from the Ulster Scots Agency.
“When you look at Arthur Cottage and look at the numbers that have gone through it and look at the income, it does not match the charges. Are we letting people in free already? It does not add up. It does not make sense.”
An officer told the meeting some tourists were not carrying cash and with no internet access, sometimes people “do not have a way to pay having made their way there”.
Referring to a rise in numbers at the Andrew Jackson Cottage, Ald Ashe stated: “We are being told on a regular basis, we have a severe financial constraint. I think the days of free are gone. We should be implementing charges at Andrew Jackson Centre.”
He went on to say the council should be “selling the story about the American connection in Northern Ireland”.
The officer noted an increase in usage at Andrew Jackson Cottage when admission fees were dropped.
Ald Ashe remarked: “Figures at the Andrew Jackson Centre went up dramatically when we started opening it.” He commented that previously it had been opened by appointment.
“I think the Ulster American connection, particularly in Mid and East Antrim, should be our biggest tourist sell. Putting things out free of charge, what is the point? We want people to come here, to make a point of coming. I think as a council, we are embarrassed about taking money.”
Carrickfergus Castle Alliance Cllr Lauren Gray commented the arrangement at Andrew Jackson Centre is “working” and numbers are up before proposing to approve the recommendation to drop charges at President Arthur Homestead.
Committee chair Braid TUV Cllr Matthew Warwick suggested a 12-month pilot, seconded by Larne Lough Alliance Cllr Maeve Donnelly. Bannside TUV Ald Stewart McDonald said he was against the proposal.
Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter