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Killyleagh Castle. Killyleagh (/ kɪliˈleɪ /; from Irish Cill Ó Laoch, meaning 'church of the descendants of Laoch') [ 1 ][ 2 ] is a village and civil parish in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is on the A22 road between Belfast and Downpatrick, on the western side of Strangford Lough. It had a population of 2,787 people in the 2021 Census.
Killyleagh Castle is a castle in the village of Killyleagh, County Down, Northern Ireland. It is believed to be one of the oldest inhabited castles in the country, with parts dating back to 1180. It follows the architectural style of a Loire Valley château, being redesigned by the architect Sir Charles Lanyon in the mid-19th century.
- Killyleagh – The Oldest Continuously Inhabited Castle in Ireland
- Killyleagh Castle – Changing Fortunes
- Impact of The English Civil War
- Conflict Over Killyleagh Ownerhip
- The Renovation of Killyleagh Castle
- Resolution to The Castle Ownership
- Killyleagh Castle Ownership Today
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- Cost of Living Crisis
Not surprisingly for a castle, parts of which date back to 1180, Killyleagh has a stormy history involving sieges, wars, suspicious deaths, divided houses and ghostly sightings.
The original castle, of which the round tower on the south side is possibly the only remains, was built on a small hill. It sits on the western side of Strangford Lough, 5 miles north-east of Downpatrick. Downpatrick was the capital of the Irish kingdom of Ulidia, until it fell to de Courcy in 1177.
Support for King Charles I
James and Anne were staunch royalists and supported King Charles I during the English Civil War. Hamilton raised a regiment of foot soldiers and calvary in the monarchist cause and set out for Carrickfergus.
Killyleagh Under Siege
In retaliation Killyleagh Castle was besieged in 1649 by Cromwellian forces under the command of General Monk. Gunboats sailed up Strangford Lough and destroyed the gatehouse of the castle. (In later years, 3 cannon balls were extracted from one of the tower walls. These were placed over an arch in the garden).
Anne Hamilton
James Hamilton’s wife Anne however, was not prepared to submit easily to the parliamentarians. Oliver Cromwell himself, arrived at Killyleagh Castle to find the gates barred against him. Anne and a few servants and tenants armed themselves as best they could, even using furniture as makeshift weapons to hurl at the surrounding army. It was only after 6 long months and threatened with starvation, that Anne surrendered. However, Lady Anne was still a force to be reckoned with. When Cromwell imp...
Competing Killyleagh Ownership Claims
Henry and Alice had one baby son who died in infancy. At this point a clause in Henry’s father’s will became more significant. It stated that if Henry had no male heir, then the Killyleagh estate should be divided between the eldest sons of James’s five brothers. This would mean that Henry’s cousins would inherit and not Lady Alice! Alice now ‘persuaded’ her husband to make a will of his own leaving his entire inheritance to herself. Henry’s mother Anne, begged him not to sign the document, c...
The Death of Henry Hamilton
The Clanbrassills left Killyleagh and set out for Dublin. While there, Henry Hamilton aged 27, died from poisoning. Only 3 months after signing the new will. Whether this was by the hand of his wife, no-one can say for sure. However, the circumstances of his burial are rather strange. He was quickly interred at Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin, rather than the family plot at Bangor (he was subsequently re-interred). Notably, Alice had Henry’s body disembowelled before burial.
The Court Case
There then followed a lengthy and acrimonious court case between Lady Alice and the 5 cousins, grandsons of the Rev Hans Hamilton. Twenty years later the matter was finally settled when a copy of the original will was uncovered. By that time however, the 5 Hamilton cousins and Lady Alice (who had remarried the wealthy Lord Bargany) had all died.
Castle Exterior
In 1850 Gawn’s descendants, Archibald Rowan-Hamilton and his wife Miss Caldwell of Cheltenham, renovated Killyleagh Castle. They employed the famous architect Charles Lanyon to complete a new design. The existing walls were enclosed and Tudor-style turrets added. The flanking circular towers gave the castle a French chateau appearance. The work was completed by June 1851 at a cost of £7,325 6s 9d. The courtyard was 90 yards long and 60 yards wide. It is said that within the yard is a large hi...
Castle Interior
The interior was given a grand entrance hall decorated with the initials ARH with shamrocks, roses and thistles. A flamboyant oak staircase leads to the upper floor. Mr Fullerton of Belfast, a carpenter and stuccoist, was employed to produce the decorative plasterwork. Musgrave & Co provided the hardware and grates and four new chimney pieces were constructed and decorated with Minton tiles. The terraced gardens lay to the south of the property. They consisted of the Box Garden, the Rockery G...
The issue of the ‘divided house’ was finally resolved in 1860 when Frederick Temple Blackwood, 5th Baron Dufferin and Clandeboye, descendant of Anne Hamilton and Hans Stevenson, donated the gate house and bawn to the Hamilton’s of Killyleagh Castle. He also arranged for the gate house to be rebuilt in the style of the present castle. The castellate...
For over 400 years Killyleagh Castle was the home of the Hamilton family and continues to be so today. Its turbulent history and ‘interesting’ inhabitants have fuelled many stories over the years. One notable owner was the United Irishman, Archibald Hamilton Rowan. The castle remains an impressive centrepiece, standing in the little village of Kill...
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Aug 22, 2015 · 6. Natural History Museums. Visit the Discovery Centre to learn more about how the lives of Sir Hans Sloane (established the British Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Chelsea Physic Garden), and the Rev Edward Hincks (…. 3. Killyleagh Castle Towers. 1. Castles. 4. Killyleagh Library.
Aug 27, 2021 · Killyleagh Castle, based in a small town in County Down, Northern Ireland, is the oldest inhabited castle in the country. It follows the gorgeous architectural style of a Loire Valley château and was redesigned by the architect Sir Charles Lanyon. It has been owned by the exact same family, the Hamilton’s, since the early 17th century.
The 17th century proved to be a tumultuous period for Killyleagh Castle. In the Irish Confederate Wars (1641-1653), the castle was besieged and damaged by Scottish Covenanter forces. Despite the conflict, the White family managed to retain ownership, and they immediately began the process of rebuilding and modernizing the castle.
Curates Of Killyleagh (Kilmore Parish) 1896-1994. Ordained 6th January 1894 in the Bishop’s house, Chichester Park, Belfast, by Bishop McAlister. Born in Ballyloughan, Cushendun, 1st November 1869, entered St. Malachy’s College, 17th August 1886, and Maynooth September 1889. C.C. Killyleagh, January 1894-96.
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