A titanic tale which captures the heart

Stories and tales of lucky escapes surround the Titanic but few capture the heart like the one which is revealed at Springhill House, Moneymore, Co Derry.

For it was from this 17th century plantation home, often described as one of the prettiest house’s in Ireland, that an 11-year-old girl, Eileen Lenox-Conyngham, started her journey to embark as a first class passenger on the world’s most famous ship.

Barbara, Alice, Denis and Eileen Lenox-Conyngham began their journey in Southampton but fortunately for them were only crossing the Channel so they disembarked in Cherbourg before travelling on to Paris for their family holiday.

They travelled as first class passengers and paid a total of £3 for the journey.

Eileen wrote a letter while on board the famous ship just four days before it sank to her nurse maid Louisa telling of her journey and for the first time ever, visitors will be able to see Eileen’s original hand written letter on White Star Line headed paper, at Springhill house.

Dated April 10,1912, historians are certain that the letter was posted in Cobh while it awaited new passengers.

The letter, which after 100 years of travelling around the world, was recently bequeathed back to Springhill House and will form part of Titanic anniversary exhibition.

During the exhibition visitors to Springhill house are invited to step back in time and join maids in the plantation home as they prepare the family to embark on the Titanic.

The whole experience and preparation for the journey on the Titanic will be brought to life for the exhibition which will recreate the elegant and stylish interiors for which the Titanic was famous.