Its foundation on basalt rock probably contributed to its survival, and ability to withstand the never-ending pounding of Atlantic waves and winds. This myth led to the creation of the Cat Garden right next to the stately pile on the slopes of Cave Hill. This is exactly the age of the stone ruins Belfasts Albert Clock tower is sinking it leans by four feet. [26], Belfast Castle was briefly seized by English forces in 1552, when the castle was possibly rebuilt on the orders of Sir James Croft, who was the Lord Deputy of Ireland at the time. [113] It has been described by the architectural historian Dixie Dean as a 'High Victorian Picturesque essay'. Shipwreck near Dunluce Castle Image by 0fjd125gk87 from Pixabay. Built in the 12th century by the Normans, Belfast Castleis established in a prominent position ofThe Cave Hill County Park in Belfast, Northern Ireland. [9], There have been several different structures called 'Belfast Castle' over the centuries; not all of these structures have been on the same site. This castle has a long and tumultuous history, well worth exploring. As a young man, Lord Shaftesbury spent much of his time at Belfast Castle, often living there when he was not in London. A hundred and fifty years later, in 1862, the process of reconstructing the castle was undertaken byThe Third Marquis of Donegall, a descendant of theChichester family, who decided to build a new castle on the North of Belfast. Belfast used to have a castle in the middle of the city centre, and ships in the middle of the high street. [109][110][111][112], The Gate Lodge at what was formerly the main entrance into the Belfast Castle Demesne still stands. On the 1860s, The 3rd Marquess of Donegall decided to build what has been described as a new princely mansion for himself. In order to display distances relevant to you, we'd like to be able to use your GPS location. [10][15] This original 'Belfast Castle', located on what later became the County Antrim side of the River Lagan, was probably in the area now bounded by Donegall Place, Castle Place, Cornmarket, and Castle Lane in the centre of what is now Belfast City Centre. [60], Since the construction of the current Belfast Castle in the late 1860s, its sandstone walls and towers have been restored. The castle was designed and built in the Victorian version of the Scots Baronial style. It was built in the 1860s and is one of the city's most famous landmarks. Location. Historical and archaeological exhibits are on display for public viewing. There are plenty of snacks and drinks available, although the castle is best known for its large-scale catering. About Belfast Belfast Castle estate is situated on the lower slopes of Cave Hill County Park in the North of Belfast. Belfast Castle is no less interesting. This direct description fits with Dunluce Castle, once home to the Clans of Ulster. [3][5], While it is open to the public daily, reservations can be made for a private room to host weddings, business meetings, and parties. "}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Is Belfast Castle free? The castle stands mostly in ruins today, but the walls and remains of some of the buildings can still be seen. Titanic Belfast is the world's largest Titanic visitor experience and a must-see on any visit to Belfast and, Only 10 minutes from Bangor, these old fisherman's cottages now house a heritage display, visitor information and weekend, Step aboard and discover one ship, 100 years of history, and 1000 incredible stories, Located in Portaferry on the shores of Strangford Lough, you can enjoy a diver's view of marine life, Journey back in time and discover the stories of Irish emigration to the New World in the 18th, See the gothic and classical collide at Castle Ward, an eccentric 18th century mansion resting on a rolling, Perfect for a family stroll while looking at the local flora and fauna, Balloo Wetland Nature Reserve has, Ever wanted to learn the ancient craft of coppersmithing? [63][64][65] Following this fire, the senior line of the Donegall family (also known as the Chichester family) left Belfast. Belfast Castle was used as the permanent premises of the Shaftesbury family from the 18th to the early 19th century. [26][27] The rebuilt castle was again briefly seized from the U Nill of Clandeboye in 1489, this time by Aodh Ruadh Domhnaill (Red Hugh O'Donnell), R na Tr Chonaill (King of Tr Chonaill), an immensely powerful Gaelic ruler from the west of Ulster. [80] He decided to build what has been described as a new 'princely mansion'[1] for himself in the 1860s on what was then the northern edge of Belfast,[1][77] just over a decade after the Great Famine had ended. In the years after it was given to the city, there was some debate about what Belfast Castle should be used for. Sir Arthur Chichester, one of the main architects of the Plantation of Ulster, had Belfast Castle largely rebuilt in the early 1610s, mainly in brick. You can also take a bus from Duncairn Yorkgate Station to Carrickfergus 14-22 Larne Road and walk for 8 minutes to reach the castle. Photos via Curated Kitchen & Coffee on Facebook. Lord Kildare seized the castle and sacked Belfast in 1503 and again in 1512. Lord Shaftesbury, his wife Harriet, Countess of Shaftesbury, and her Chichester ancestors are commemorated in the form of Belfast street names, much like how the original castles are remembered.[60][88]. [96][97][98][99], In his later years, Lord Shaftesbury spent less and less time at Belfast Castle,[100] particularly after the outbreak of the First World War. Instead, Sir Brian, along with his wife and his brother, were arrested by Lord Essex and, later in 1574, all three were executed in Dublin. Even if you just visit for the views out over the city, the short 20-minute drive from the city centre out to the castle are well worth it. We exist to make planning your Irish Road Trip easy. In August 1603, Sir Arthur Chichester received a Kings letter which officially put him in charge of Belfast Castle and its surrounding lands. By 1603, Belfast Castle was in ruins, largely as a result of the Nine Years War. [4], Another example of events held at the castle was the 2015 Belfast Castle Hospice Walk, held by the Northern Ireland Hospice to benefit local charities and those living with terminal illnesses.[118]. Upon his death, the 8th Earl was succeeded by his then sixteen-year-old son, who now became The 9th Earl of Shaftesbury (1869-1961). There are some waymarkers but in many places there is no signage at all so youll find a downloaded map very useful. Cavehill Country park contains numerous archaeological and historical features, including Napoleons Nose, which is believed to have been the inspiration for Jonathan Swifts novel Gullivers Travels. A prominent Unionist, the 9th Earl was to involve himself very much in local affairs, going on to become Lord Mayor of Belfast in 1907. Facts about Belfast Castle We may all come from different walks of life but we have one common passion - learning through travel. The fire destroyed the castle, leaving only street names, such as Castle Place, to mark the location. A formative ruin located on an island overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. There is evidence of settlement from the first millennium, the present castle ruins date mainly from the 16th and 17th centuries. In a battle fought in November 1597 against the MacDonnells at Altfrackyn (also known as Aldfreck), a townland just north of Ballycarry, the English were defeated, with 180 of their soldiers being killed. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. For a century it remained a magazine and armoury. Alskea: Donegall Park Gardens, Antrim Road, Belfast. The castle estate passed down through the Donegall family, hence the coat-of-arms above the front door and on the north wall of the castle. Yes! Other items that have been uncovered are gaming pieces, bone combs, a bronze tuning pin, dress fastenings, and wine glass stems. [60] The Cavehill Visitor Centre is located inside the castle. [57][59][60] Lord Chichester had only one child with his wife, a son, who died in infancy. Belfast Castle stairs, by Alicia Fagerving, is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0Belfast Castle Turret, by Etrusia UK, is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0Coat of Arms, Belfast Castle, by Ross, is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0Gates, Belfast Castle, by Albert Bridge, is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0PICT0090, by Abel Pardo Lpez, is licensed under CC BY 2.0. Visitors can see a bedroom, set up in the style of the 1920s, so visitors can see a snapshot in time of what the castle looked like at the end of its life as a private residence. There is currently no charge for parking. The beginnings of Belfast Castle. Sorley Boy McDonnell took Dunluce by force from the McQuillans after the Battle of Orla in 1565. Even if you just visit for the views out over the city, the short 20-minute drive from the city centre out to the castle are well worth it. [1][80] Thus, she and her husband eventually inherited the castle and the rest of the Donegall family's vast estates in October 1883, upon the death of her father, the 3rd Marquess,[80] while the marquessate was inherited by her elderly uncle, the former Church of Ireland Dean of Raphoe, who became The 4th Marquess of Donegall. Passed down by generations, it was later handed over to the northern Irish Government in 1928. [115] The grand, octagonal stone carriageway piers that once stood to one side of the Gate Lodge were demolished in the mid-twentieth century, as was the attached wall surrounding the demesne. Its location provides unobstructed views over the City of Belfast and Belfast Lough. 16 Things Belfast is Known and Famous For - Hey Explorer Situated precariously on top of a craggy outcrop of rock, overlooking the North Channel of the Atlantic Ocean, Dunluce is one of the most picturesque and romantic of Irish Castles. Construction cost well over the 11,000 set aside to pay for the project, forcing Lord Donegall to seek financial assistance from Baron Ashley (1831-1886), his son-in-law, in order to complete the new castle. Belfast Castle stands 120 m (400 ft) above sea level on the slopes of Cavehill Country Park in Belfast, Northern Ireland. By default, all distances on the site are calculated from Belfast City Centre. Grab some of the best views of the city on the Cave Hill walk, 3. The castle and its surrounding demesne were eventually gifted to the City of Belfast by Lord Shaftesbury in January 1934. Rooms of the castle have now been converted into public tea rooms that can be booked for tea parties or meetings. The Shaftesbury familycontributed a lot to the Belfast Castle through donations, charities, garden fetes, etc., for which they are famously remembered through the various streets of Belfast like the Donegall Place, Donegall Square, Donegall Road, and Shaftesbury Square. Especially under the of 1903, the huge country estates in Ireland, including those of the Shaftesbury family in Ulster, were broken up and sold off, mainly being sold to the tenant farmers who actually lived on and farmed the land. Belfasts very own leaning tower of Pisa, the Albert Clock leans four feet off the perpendicular. Theres a small cafe on the ground floor opening onto the terrace. It may have been built by the Normans, who invaded East Ulster in the late twelfth-century. Belfast As with Belfast Castle itself, there is some debate over who actually designed the Chapel of the Resurrection. Its said the McDonnells covered a bog with rushes and stationed a few men on firm ground, fooling the McQuillans into charging into the bog. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Visit Belfast is a trading name of Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau Limited (NI 034953). It has since hosted many weddings, dances and events. Belfast Castle was passed to the Shaftesburys in October 1883. This is regarded as one of the more challenging walks in Belfast for good reason. [114] The lodge was principally designed and built in the Scots Baronial style, just like Belfast Castle itself, and was constructed for The 3rd Marquess of Donegall in the late 1860s, at the same time as both the castle and the Chapel of the Resurrection. [103] Following its closure, the chapel suffered extensive vandalism throughout the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and first two decades of the twenty-first-century, with all of the glass in the building's windows either being removed or destroyed. Excavations have revealed the evidence of coins from the times of Charles I and Elizabeth I. Belfast Castle - Wikipedia Edinburgh Castle was built atop an extinct volcano. Dunluce Castle. There are four ways to get to Carrickfergus from Belfast. For more stunning views, don your hiking boots and head out on the Cave Hill Trail. Learn how your comment data is processed. While the town of Belfast had been sold off by The 3rd Marquess of Donegall back in the 1850s,[62][69][79] the Donegall family continued to own a large estate in County Antrim and large parts of Inishowen until these passed to the Shaftesburys in October 1883. The restaurant is open for dinner until 9pm on Thursday to Saturday evenings. The new Belfast Castle was constructed in the late 1860s using pink Scrabo sandstone from near Newtownards in the north of County Down, along with Giffnock sandstone dressings from Renfrewshire and a rock-faced basalt plinth. ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"We can't (and we've tried!) Belfast Castle [13][14], By 1333, a small settlement is thought to have developed around the castle at Belfast. The castle was just the beginning. The castle boasts an antique shop, a restaurant and visitors centre. Maeves ghost is said to be still seen in the tower. We're here to help, so if you can't find the info you're after, or you just want to ask a [9][77][101][103][105] This Church of Ireland chapel was originally designed and built as a mortuary chapel and new mausoleum for the Donegall family, specifically being built as a memorial to Frederick Richard, Earl of Belfast (1827-1853), the son and heir apparent of The 3rd Marquess of Donegall. It also features the plants and animals that live in Cave Hill County Park within the woodland, heath, cliffs, caves and two nature reserves. [1][7] However, there is some debate over who in the firm actually designed the new Belfast Castle. Marina O'Donnell, 'The Estate System of Landholding in County Donegal' in Jim MacLaughlin and Sen Beattie (Editors). Since 1708, the Earls and, later, Marquesses of Donegall had mainly lived over in Great Britain, usually living in London. It has many other claims to fame and tales from within its walls. [16][18] Both the River Farset and the River Owenvara (Irish: Abhainn Bheara, meaning 'River of the Staff', usually known nowadays in English as the Blackstaff River[19]) emptied into the River Lagan just to the east of this castle site. [10], Sir Arthur Chichester was also 'granted' a vast estate in Inishowen in County Donegal, over in the north-west of Ulster, in 1608 or 1609. However, the outside of the castle building is even more impressive. In order to allow access to your location, you need to update your site settings through your browser settings to allow this site access to your location. The 800-year-old Carrickfergus Castle is one of the best preserved medieval structures in Ireland. Whether you want to learn the history of a city, or you simply need a recommendation for your next meal, Discover Walks Team offers an ever-growing travel encyclopaedia.
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