Cockle Row Cottages

About

Take a step back in time with a visit to the lovingly restored Cockle Row Cottages in Groomsport. The cottages illustrate life for a fisherman and his family at the turn of the last century. Open seasonally, in the summer, the Cottages also house a local Visitor Information Centre and shop. 

Thought to be nearly 400 years old, Cockle Row is the last reminder of old Groomsport. The building was once a pair of fisherman’s cottages and signs of their age can be found by taking a closer look inside. Pop into the Visitor Information Centre to discover a window exposing the interior structure of the walls or look in the cottage capturing its yesteryear and admire the thickness of the walls and the thatched roof. Or appreciate how the cottages were built at right angles to the sea, to protect its inhabitants from the fierce coastal storms.

The cottages were inhabited until the 1950s and were saved from demolition in the 1960s by Bangor Art Club, who repaired the cottages and opened them to the public during weekends in the summer.

In 1997, North Down Borough Council were awarded a grant to entirely renovate the cottages including the first installation of electricity. They reopened that summer, with one building becoming a heritage cottage to allow visitors to experience bygone life and the other as a modern Visitor Information Centre. Since then, they have become a much-loved attraction in the area. Why not call into Cockle Row to have a chat with the Visitor Ambassadors, pick up a souvenir or enjoy the free entertainment which takes place each Sunday.

Little explores can also explore the sense trail, encouraging them to look, listen, smell and feel the natural surroundings of this special place.  Pick up your free Explorers Pack from the Visitor Information staff, inside, where you will also find a souvenir and summer fun essentials for the kids and you can wander the cottages to see what life was like for the family that lived there.

The cottages are open seasonally, this year - 5 June until 14 September 2025 (until the European Heritage Open Weekend). Thursday to Sunday, 11:00 - 15:00

Free family entertainment will take place on Sundays throughout the season,14:00 - 16:00 - Find out more