Benburb Castle facts for kids
Benburb Castle is an old castle found in a place called Benburb in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It's a special kind of walled courtyard, known as a "bawn," that was built in 1611. Sir Richard Wingfield built it on the spot where an even older fort used to stand. This older fort, built by the powerful O'Neill family, might have been there as early as the 1400s!
The castle sits on a tall limestone cliff. It looks out over the River Blackwater, which forms the border between County Tyrone and County Armagh.
What is Benburb Castle?
Benburb Castle is a strong, walled area that was built during a time called the Plantation of Ulster. This was when new settlers came to live in Ulster. The castle's main part is an uneven four-sided courtyard. You enter through the wall on the north side.
Castle Features
- Towers: The castle has large, square towers at its north-east and north-west corners. There's also a smaller, round tower at the south-east corner. These towers helped protect the castle.
- Later Additions: In the 1800s, a tower house was added inside the castle's south-west area.
- Condition: Today, Benburb Castle is in great shape! It has been fixed up and looks very good.
Location and Surroundings
The castle is located within the grounds of a large building called the Servite Priory. This is a place where a religious group lives in the village.
Benburb Castle is officially known as a State Care Historic Monument. This means the government helps look after it because it's an important historical site. You can find it in the area of Benburb, within the Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council region. Its exact location on a map is H8146 5199.
