Stewart Castle facts for kids
Stewart Castle is an old castle in Newtownstewart, a town in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. People also call it Newtownstewart Castle. It was built a long time ago, in 1619.
The castle was designed like a large English country house. Sir Robert Newcomen was the person who had it built.
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History of Stewart Castle
Stewart Castle has seen a lot of history. It was damaged several times during important events.
The Irish Rebellion of 1641
In 1641, a big rebellion happened in Ireland. Stewart Castle was badly damaged during this time. An Irish leader named Sir Phelim O' Neill captured the castle.
King James II and the Siege of Derry
Later, in 1689, the castle faced more trouble. This was when King James II returned from the Siege of Derry. The Siege of Derry was a very long and important battle. After this, King James ordered that Stewart Castle and the whole town of Newtownstewart be burned down.
Today, you can still see a piece of the castle wall. It stands in the main street of Newtownstewart. It reminds everyone of the castle's long history.
A Special Discovery
In 1999, something very old was found at the castle site. Workers discovered a complete Bronze Age cist grave. A cist grave is a small stone box used for burials. This discovery shows that people lived in this area thousands of years ago.
Protecting the Castle
Newtownstewart Plantation castle is now a special place. It is a State Care Historic Monument. This means the government helps protect it. It is located in the townland of Newtownstewart. You can find it in the Strabane District Council area. The exact location is grid reference H4020 8583.
