The historic cottage on the old coalyard premises at 40 Carrickmore Road, Ballycastle, has been reduced to a pile of rubble.
It would appear that BTW Cairns, the estate agents, Povall Worthington, the architects, and elements of the mainstream media have misled the public about the historic nature of the site. Was the buyer informed or did the buyer check the site's real history?
Povall Worthington: MARCONI COTTAGE - COUNTY ANTRIM
Located on the County Antrim coastline near Ballycastle, a two storey replacement dwelling is proposed on this dramatic 18 acre site.
A floor area of 2,500sqft is proposed and glazed facades provide excellent views over the surrounding sea & coastline. Image five shows the existing cottage property.
This property has received much attention from the media, being featured in numerous newspapers & online, including the Belfast Telegraph, Irish Examiner & BBC News.
BBC: "It was the Irish home of a wireless pioneer and has now gone on the market for £400,000. .. Just the spot for an inventor to quietly tinker with electromagnetic waves [Quite. Is this an advert or a news item?] .. The site has full planning consent for a replacement home [Ah, yes. So the Planning Service gave permission for the demolition of a building of global significance? Surely not]
UTV: "The seafront home on Northern Ireland's North Antrim coast was owned by the family of Nobel Prize-winning scientist Guglielmo Marconi and it was from there in 1898 he sent transmissions to the nearby Rathlin Island." [attributed to Press Association]
David Young, Press Association: "The seafront home on Northern Ireland's North Antrim coast was owned by the family of Nobel Prize-winning scientist Guglielmo Marconi and it was there in 1898 he sent transmissions to the nearby Rathlin Island.
Sitting on the rocks at Ballycastle with a spectacular view out to sea, the property was always expected to fetch a hefty price, but with its added historic significance the selling agent believes it will reach upwards of £400,000."
Irish Examiner: "Broadcast it far and wide, Marconi Cottage is for sale on Antrim coast .. Up for sale near Ballycastle, in north Co Antrim, is Marconi Cottage, a 19th century seaside stunner with a direct link to the great man of wireless, radio inventor Guglielmo Marconi."
So what will be the next mainstream media headline? "Roads Service Allows 'Public Road' To Be Sealed Off"? "Private v Public Space on the Causeway Coast - Winners and Losers"
