Kilclief Castle facts for kids
Kilclief Castle is an old tower-house castle. It stands right next to Strangford Lough. You can find it about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) south of Strangford village. This castle is in County Down, Northern Ireland. Kilclief itself is a small place on the road between Strangford and Ardglass.
A Look Back in Time: Kilclief Castle's Story
Kilclief Castle was one of the very first tower-houses built in the Lecale area. It was constructed between 1412 and 1441. A man named John Sely is believed to have built the castle. He was also the Bishop of Down from 1429 to 1443. However, he was removed from his position. This happened because he lived in the castle with a married woman.
Later, from 1601 to 1602, the castle was used by the Crown. Nicholas FitzSymon and ten guards stayed there to protect it.
What Makes Kilclief Castle Special?
This castle is quite tall, with four different floors. The first floor has a strong stone ceiling that curves upwards, called a vault. The castle also has two turrets that stick out. One turret holds a spiral staircase. The other turret contains several garderobes, which were like old toilets. You could reach these from three of the four floors.
These turrets are connected at the roof level by a high arch. This arch covers a drop-hole called a machicolation. It was used to drop things on unwanted visitors below. The castle also has stepped battlements, which are the parts of the wall with gaps for defense.
Just like at Jordan's Castle, the ground floor room has a rounded, tunnel-like ceiling. This type of ceiling is called a barrel vault. On the second floor, a stone lid from a 13th-century coffin was used again. It became the top part, or lintel, of the fireplace. The two-light window on the east wall was rebuilt to look like the original.
Today, the government looks after the castle. You can take guided tours in July and August.
See also
- Castles in Northern Ireland
