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Hillsborough Castle, which is located in the village of Royal Hillsborough in the north-west of County Down, is not a true castle. It is a Georgian country house built in the 18th century for the Hill family, Marquesses of Downshire , who owned it until 1922, when Arthur Hill, 7th Marquess of Downshire sold the mansion and its grounds to the ...
Viewed by some as a politically neutral venue, Hillsborough has played an important role in the Peace Process in Northern Ireland since the 1980s. In 2014, Historic Royal Palaces took over the running of Hillsborough Castle and Gardens and began an ambitious project to restore the house and gardens to its former glory.
- History of Hillsborough Castle
- Hillsborough Castle Today
- Getting to Hillsborough Castle
Hillsborough Castle is not in fact a castle: it’s a stately home, built in 1797 for Wills Hill, 1st Marquess of Downshire. Most of what you see today dates from the 1830s and 40s, when an extensive remodelling took place. The Hills were big entertainers, hosting lavish parties for up to 3,500 guests. The family began to use the house less and less,...
In 2014, Hillsborough Castle passed into the care of Historic Royal Palaces, a UK charity which manages unoccupied royal residences. The interior of the castle is accessible by guided tour only: it’s worth booking ahead online if you want a particular time. The gardens are particularly lovely: covering over 100 acres, they meander through formal Wa...
Hillsborough is about 12 miles south of Belfast: take the M1 out of town, and turn off onto the A1 (southbound) at Junction 7. Brown signs will direct you to Hillsborough’s free car park. If you’re coming via public transport, route 238 (Belfast-Newry) runs through Hillsborough Village regularly. The nearest train station is Lisburn, 5 miles away: ...
- Sarah Roller
The origins of Hilllsborough Castle begin with Sir Moyses Hill, who was originally from Devon. Moyses arrived in Ireland in 1573 as part of Walter Deveraux’s army, with the intention of colonising Ulster. Initially appointed the governor of Olderfleet Castle in Larne, Moyses was knighted in 1603.
In 1922, a significant turning point occurred in the history of Hillsborough Castle when it was purchased by the British government to serve as the official residence for the Governor of Northern Ireland. This marked the beginning of the castle's association with political power and the British monarchy.
May 26, 2024 · The story of Hillsborough Castle begins with Wills Hill, the 1st Marquess of Downshire, who commissioned the construction of the house in 1797. Designed by the renowned architect George Dance the Younger, the castle initially featured a simple yet elegant Georgian style (Rowan, 2004).
Sep 3, 2024 · Hillsborough Castle was built as a grand Georgian country house for the Hill family (Earls of Downshire) around 1760. It was owned by successive Marquesses until 1922 when the 6th Marquis sold it to the British government.
