Innisfree was built in 1914 by the Crook & District Co-operative Society as accommodation for the manager of their shop, next door.

The shop has gone through many changes, most recently to a post office which has now closed.  Apart from the introduction of indoor plumbing the house had changed little until purchased by Ken and Carol in 2007.  Since then it has been extensively modernised and improved whilst retaining most of its original features.

Carol and Ken moved to Stanley from Ramsgate to run the Post Office and village shop.  Post Office Ltd had other ideas and in October 2008 closed the post office down.  With the loss of post office customers the shop was not viable and had to close.  This left the couple free to develop Innisfree as a guest house.