The main part of Shamrock Lea was built in 1907 and was part of the large scale development of Whitehall village during the boom

You can clearly see the addition that was added before this picture was taken in 1914. This created a small separate flat upstairs and an additional public room downstairs. The entrance to the flat was via stone steps around the back of the house. We took those down some years ago and had an internal opening from house to flat but it was during the major works of 2001 that finally and fully incorporated the flat into the house.

It looks in this picture that the house and extension are not very level but this picture would have been taken with a very wide angle lens and this is what is causing the distortion.

The first owner was Maggie Harcus (seen to the right of the house door in the old picture) who ran the shop as a "General store" she died in 1961 and left the house to a niece. Over the next 26 years it was owned by three more families until 1987 when we purchased it and moved in.

During the sixties the shop was changed from a General store to a Butchers shop. A Fish and Chip shop was run from what is now the garage (through the archway). We still have the original deep fryer that was powered by coal, it is now a workbench.

During 2001 major improvements were carried out that have vastly improved the living conditions and hopefully have given the house a new lease of life, and our thanks go to. Jimmy Allen (Main builder), Ross, Sammy, Brian, Simon, Tim, John C, John H and any one else involved in the work.