Historic sites vie to be saved

Gracehill Old School is a Grade B, Georgian building

A former church, a 16th century white house and a Georgian school are competing in a battle to be restored.

The three finalists will represent Northern Ireland in the BBC Restoration series to be broadcast on BBC Two at 2100 BST on Friday 1 September.

Restoration Village will call on the public to vote for the building they wish to see restored.

Cushendun Old Church, Gracehill Old School and the White House, Newtownabbey, will feature.

Cushendun Old Church in County Antrim, a small former Church of Ireland building, is just four metres by 14 metres and has been declared redundant.

It was once a haven for many distinguished artists and the community is keen to rejuvenate the building.

Local people want to develop it as a broad-based arts centre. It is one of the most significant buildings in the National Trust village of Cushendun which was partly designed by architect and conservationist Clough William-Ellis.

Gracehill Old School near Ballymena in County Antrim is a grade B Georgian school in the centre of the only intact Moravian settlement in Ireland.

Gracehill is Northern Ireland's oldest conservation area and is a unique planned village dating from the 17th century. The only other Moravian Christian villages such as this are in the Czech Republic and South Africa.

Cushendun Old Church is in a National Trust village

Visitors come from all over the world to see Gracehill. The 200 villagers are passionate supporters of the restoration project which has already attracted money but needs £250,000 match-funding to trigger heritage grants.

The White House in Newtownabbey is a Grade B1 listed building dating back to 1569 and is believed to be the oldest building in greater Belfast.

It is called the "White House" because the building had a limestone rendering which made it a navigation marker for ships entering Belfast Lough.

The building was gifted to Major Brunker by Queen Elizabeth I as a reward for his services in the Spanish Wars.

The building served as a residence until 1840 from which point it was used as a stable and barn. By 1923, it was a derelict shell but it was at this point that it was taken on as a gospel hall.

In 1996, the building was put on the market and was bought by Ulster Garden Villages on behalf of the Abbey Historical Society which had ambitions for its re-use.

A total of 21 buildings around the UK, including the three Northern Ireland buildings, will be up for the public vote with the possibility of securing crucial funding to ensure their future.

This new series, presented by Griff Rhys Jones, will focus this year on buildings which have previously been historically important to a local rural community and could be again.

The White House, Newtownabbey, was a gift from Queen Elizabeth I

Seven finalists from around the country will then be put forward for the ultimate public vote.

Viewers who want to vote for any of the three properties can call 09013 600 500 between Friday morning 1 September and Tuesday evening 5 September.

Each call will cost £1, with 77p going directly to the Restoration Fund, a registered charity.

The winning building will be in line to receive the money accumulated throughout the series.

Each of Northern Ireland's featured properties will be open on Saturday 2 September to offer the public a chance to find out more about them.

Restoration Village is on Friday 1 September at 2100 BST on BBC Two and will be repeated on Monday 4 September at 1900 BST on BBC Two.