Kirkistown Castle facts for kids
Kirkistown Castle is an old castle located near Cloghy in County Down, Northern Ireland. It's a special historic building that the government looks after. You can find it in the area called Kirkistown, within the Ards and North Down Borough.
Contents
Discovering Kirkistown Castle's History
Kirkistown Castle is a very impressive building with three floors. It was built in 1622 by a man named Roland Savage. He was a Norman landlord, meaning he owned a lot of land. The castle was built on the spot where an even older round tower stood, dating back to the 800s!
Life and Desertion at the Castle
People lived in Kirkistown Castle for many years, right up until 1731. After that, it was left empty and became deserted. Even though it was built after the "Plantation of Ulster" (a time when many new settlers came to Ireland), it still looks like the older tower-houses from the Middle Ages.
What is a Bawn?
Around the castle, there was once a strong wall called a "bawn." This wall helped protect the castle and its residents. Some parts of this bawn wall are still standing today. You can even see three-quarter round towers at the corners of the wall, which were used for defense.
Restoring the Castle's Look
Over the years, people tried to fix up the castle. Around 1800, a man named Colonel Johnston gave it a new look in the Gothic style. Later, in 1836, a young Master Montgomery from Grey Abbey did some more work on it. However, the castle was left with only part of its roof and broken windows. Because of this, the weather quickly caused it to fall apart again.
Visiting Kirkistown Castle Today
For many years, Kirkistown Castle was not open to the public. But in 2001, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency opened its doors for the very first time. Now, people can visit and explore this fascinating piece of history.
See also
In Spanish: Kirkistown para niños
