The Ballyclare Mort House – When the Dead Needed Protecting

Hidden within the peaceful surroundings of Rashee Old Cemetery in Ballyclare stands one of County Antrim's most unusual historic buildings the Mort House, built in 1831 during a time when newly buried bodies were at risk of being stolen.

The Mort House

In the early 19th century, resurrectionists, or body snatchers, targeted fresh graves, stealing bodies to sell to medical schools for anatomical study. To protect their loved ones, families could temporarily place coffins inside this secure stone vault, where thick stone walls, a heavy locked entrance and iron bars kept them safe until decomposition meant there was no longer any value to grave robbers.

Today, the Mort House remains a remarkable reminder of a darker chapter in our history and the extraordinary measures communities took to protect those they had laid to rest.

Want to discover even more?

I've recently filmed a short video exploring the Ballyclare Mort House in person, where I also take a closer look at the rare surviving mortsafe found nearby an iron cage placed over graves to stop body snatchers reaching the coffin below.

📱 Head over to the Abandoned NI Facebook page to watch the full video and discover the fascinating story behind these remarkable pieces of burial history.