Killymoon Castle

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Killymoon Castle

Tyrone

Location
Grid reference: H82257646
Location: 54°37’47"N, 6°43’37"W
History
Built 1803
Information
Condition: Pristine
Owned by: Private

Killymoon Castle is a castle standing about a mile south-east of Cookstown, Tyrone, on the north bank of the Ballinderry River.[1]

An 18-hole golf course has in recent years been built on the parkland, where British tournaments have been played.

History

The original castle was built in 1671 by James Stewart, to be the centre of the substantial estate which had been granted to his family had been granted to him at the Plantation of Ulster. The castle could be built when in 1666 Stewart bought out the land lease of the site from Alan Cooke, the founder of Cookstown.

The original 1671 Killymoon Castle burnt down in 1801. It was rebuilt in a larger version in 1803[1] to a design by John Nash. It is an asymmetrical structure with both round and square towers and Regency Gothic interiors.[2]

Present Day

Currently Killymoon Castle is a private residence, although the recent addition of a tea room has opened the castle to public visits. The grounds and interior are popular for wedding photographs, due to well kept gardens and period internal decor.

Outside links

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Killymoon Castle". The Chrono Centre - Queens University Belfast. http://www.chrono.qub.ac.uk/local/tyrone/Killymoon/. Retrieved 2007-11-29. 
  2. O'Neill, B (ed). (2002). Irish Castles and Historic Houses. London: Caxton Editions. p. 25.