This myth led to the creation of the Cat Garden right next to the stately pile on the slopes of Cave Hill. Webbelfast castle | Just Fun Facts Animals Architecture Art Food Nature People Places Space Other belfast castle Leave a Comment You must be logged in to post a comment. There are plenty of snacks and drinks available, although the castle is best known for its large-scale catering. Marina O'Donnell, 'The Estate System of Landholding in County Donegal' in Jim MacLaughlin and Sen Beattie (Editors). Discover Walks contributors speak from all corners of the world - from Prague to Bangkok, Barcelona to Nairobi. Belfast Castle is located in the Cave Hill area of north Belfast. The new, Victorian castle was built in the Scots Baronial architectural style and was designed by the Belfast firm of Lanyon, Lynn and Lanyon. The cave is massive, and it offers a splendid view of the sea. This one was destroyed by fire barely 100 years later, leaving only the street names to mark its existence. Dunluce served as the seat of the Earls of Antrim until the familys fortunes changed following the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. [9], There have been several different structures called 'Belfast Castle' over the centuries; not all of these structures have been on the same site. [107], Having been derelict for almost fifty years,[9][104][108] the chapel was eventually converted into luxury flats, with work being completed in 2020. [60], Belfast Castle is open to the public daily with a visitor centre, antique shop, Millennium Herb Garden, restaurant, and a playground. [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. Belfast Castle is famously used to hold weddings, it is a popular avenue to hold business meetings, tea parties, and occasional dinner meet-ups! For our opening times, go to Opening hours. [37][38][39][40][41] It seems this massacre was ordered by Essex himself. Chichester, who had been one of the most ruthless English commanders in Ireland during the Nine Years' War,[36] received a King's letter in August 1603, which officially put him in charge of Belfast Castle and its surrounding lands. Castle on the slopes of Cavehill Country Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland, The current Belfast Castle, which was constructed in the late 1860s for. The 3rd Marquess would serve at Westminster as Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard from February 1848 until February 1852 in the first government of Lord John Russell, while the Great Famine was still ravaging Ireland. Back at the castle youll find one of our favourite spots for coffee in Belfast. The head of the Donegall family would not live in Belfast again for almost a century, until The 2nd Marquess of Donegall (1769-1844) settled in Belfast in 1802, establishing his main residence there. Can you remember?. Natural Stone Database: Buildings - Chapel of the Resurrection, Innisfayle Park, Antrim Road, Belfast. After the Second World War, a large amount of housing was built on the lands of the Belfast Castle Demesne that bordered the Antrim Road. Photo left: gabo. There is currently no charge for parking. In a patent dated 5 November 1603, the Crown granted to Sir Arthur Chichester 'The Castle of Bealfaste or Belfast, with the Appurtenants and Hereditaments, Spiritual and Temporal, situate in the Lower Clandeboye, late in the possession or custody of Sir Ralph Lane Knt., deceased'. The sculpture, which was originally located in the Chapel of the Resurrection, was carved in white marble, and it depicts the young Lord Belfast lying on a sofa, dying from scarlatina, being mourned by his lace-capped mother, Lady Donegall. Location. To facilitate the building of this housing, almost all of the castle's demesne wall along the Antrim Road was demolished. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. We're here to help, so if you can't find the info you're after, or you just want to ask a The original main entrance into the current demesne was formerly on the Antrim Road itself, where Strathmore Park now meets the Antrim Road. It was called Belfast Castle, in a nod to family history, even though it was built on a completely different site from the original castle site, which had been located right in the centre of Belfast. [30] English forces, under the command of Sir John Chichester, soon marched north to retake Belfast Castle from the U Nill of Clandeboye, which they did in July 1597. "}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What are the opening hours for Belfast Castle? Discover Northern Ireland: Belfast Castle Estate. It is said that he ensured the recovered bodies received a Catholic burial and arranged for the survivors to travel on to Scotland. But the locals say they can still hear the screams of the kitchen staff over the sound of the sea waves. The English Crown finally seized Belfast Castle from the U Nill of Clandeboye during the Nine Years' War in the 1590s, when the castle was occupied by English troops. When Is The Best Time To Visit Ireland? He was known as the Earl of Belfast, a courtesy title, between January 1799 and October 1844, when he succeeded his father in the marquessate. Although weve tried, we cant seem to find up-to-date opening hours for Belfast Castle, so you may have to ring in advance. 'Belfast: The hidden castles under the city's shops' (, W.A. The Girona was a Spanish warship that set sail in May 1588 from Spain. [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. [30][31][32][33][34] Chichester was killed by the MacDonnells during or immediately after this battle, possibly by being beheaded. [37][38][42], By 1603, Belfast Castle, which was probably a Gaelic towerhouse by this time, was in ruins, largely as a result of the Nine Years' War. The Park is also home to McArts Fort, an ancient fort which stands at 1,200 feet above sea level. [37][38] This event is usually known as the Clandeboye Massacre. Course of the disappeared Farset River. The Victorian structured Castle has a breathtaking view in the lough of the city and is positioned 120 m above sea level. The last service in the chapel was held in 1972, after which the building was closed. The town also had a dungeon and a courthouse. [101] Running the castle became ever more of a financial burden to the Shaftesbury family, especially after what remained of their County Antrim estate was sold off, under the terms of the Land Acts, in the 1890s and the years immediately before 1914. It remained in their hands throughout the fifteenth- and sixteenth-centuries, with a few brief exceptions. History. The original Belfast Castle, built in the late 12th century by the Normans, was located in the town itself, flanked by the modern day High Street, Castle Place and Donegall Place in what is now Belfast city centre. This was the home of The 1st Baron Chichester (better known as Sir Arthur Chichester ), but was burned down in 1708, [69][74] This country house was built in the Tudor Revival architectural style and was designed by William Vitruvius Morrison. WebCarrickfergus was built by an Anglo-Norman knight John de Courcy in 1177, he used this Castle as his headquarters after he conquered eastern Ulster. Recent Posts Interesting facts about Table Tennis Interesting facts about Shrek Interesting facts about the Baroque Interesting facts about Peter Paul Rubens [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. What's On The cave is actually a huge cavern, more than 25 meters under the castle. Its quite challenging underfoot and steep in places but very rewarding. [21][37][38] The feast was to celebrate a newly signed peace agreement between the English Crown and Sir Brian. Happy travels! 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. For local insights and insiders travel tips that you wont find anywhere else, search any keywords in the top right-hand toolbar on this page. 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. There is evidence of settlement from the first millennium, the present castle ruins date mainly from the 16th and 17th centuries. [10][36] A new grant of the castle and its surrounding lands was made by the Crown the following year, in May 1604, again to Chichester, who would serve as Lord Deputy of Ireland between 1605 and 1616. The new castle was built of stone and timber on the same site as the previous castle. Youll find everything you need to know about visiting Belfast Castle below. R.Q.I.A. Some architectural historians believe that the chapel, like the castle, was designed by either W.H. It was built in the 1860s and is one of the city's most famous landmarks. Other items that have been uncovered are gaming pieces, bone combs, a bronze tuning pin, dress fastenings, and wine glass stems. Rebuilding of the castle began in the early 1610s. Web10 Great Victoria St, Belfast BT2 7BA, UK Facing Grand Opera House - Checkin inside shop 8:45am tour departs at 9:00am sharp See address & details 1 Carrickfergus Castle Stop: 15 minutes - Admission excluded See details 2 Carnlough Harbour Stop: 15 minutes See details 3 Cushendun Stop: 20 minutes See details 4 The Dark Hedges Stop: 90 showcase the best of Belfast and Northern Ireland. 1913. One of its most iconic features is the winding stone staircase on the garden faade, whose greyish-brown colour stands out against the burnt sienna sandstone and brick-red detail. 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. Once the home of the Donegall family, there have been quite a few Belfast Castles over the centuries. Between 1945 and the 1970s, Belfast Castle was a popular venue for wedding receptions, dances and afternoon teas. In 1978, the castle closed as part of a 2 million refurbishment programme, overseen by Hewitt and Haslam Partnership architects. It reopened on 11 November 1988 and is now a popular venue for weddings, business meetings and events. Practical Advice For Students Who Dream Of Traveling. Belfast Castle estate also contains both parkland and mature mixed woodland that is home to many different species of wildlife, including long-eared owls, sparrowhawks and Belfasts rarest plant, the town hall clock. 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. For local insights and insiders travel tips that you wont find anywhere else, search any keywords in the top right-hand toolbar on this page. Homepage, See & Do Belfast Castle | Belfast, Northern Ireland | Ultimate guide Surrounded by well-maintained gardens and woodland, the estate offers dramatic views across the Belfast Lough. Dont miss St Georges Market (Fridays through Sundays) with its musical entertainment and stalls. The Victorian structured Castle has a breathtaking view in the lough of the city and is positioned 120 m above sea level. The first Belfast Castle was built in the late 12th century by the Normans in Belfast city. A second castle was constructed by Sir Arthur Chichester, the baron of Belfast, on the same site in the year 1611. [62][79] This left, of the 'Belfast estate', only the Ormeau Demesne and most of Cave Hill in the ownership of Lord Donegall. When the head of the Chichester family was advanced in the Peerage of Ireland to being an earl in 1647, they took the title Earl of Donegall due to the family's ownership of this vast estate in Inishowen. Apart from this, the castle is also famous for The Cave Hill Country Park, The Cave Hill Adventurous Playground, The Cave Hill Visitor Centre, and much more! The castle was briefly occupied twice by the forces of The 8th Earl of Kildare, the Lord Deputy of Ireland and the leading Geraldine at the time. The renovations have left many original architectural features intact including the fireplaces. find opening hours for the castle at the moment. This turreted stone building is surrounded by gardens and woodland and its arguably one of the most beautiful castles in Northern Ireland. 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. Beyond Belfast Castle and Cave Hill, the city has lots of interesting historical sites, museums, galleries and shops. Belfast Castle is located 400 feet (121.92 metres) above sea level on Cave Hill, overlooking Belfast in County Antrim in the east of Ulster. [1][7][8] The main entrance into the Belfast Castle Demesne is now where Innisfayle Park meets Downview Park West, just off the Antrim Road (part of the A6). WebBelfast Castle is located in the Cave Hill area of north Belfast. The 3rd Marquess of Donegall (1797-1883), in stark contrast to his father, did not spend much of his adult life living in Belfast or anywhere else in Ireland. Learn how your comment data is processed. If you select a location more than 15km from the Visit Belfast Welcome Centre, your location will be set to Belfast City Centre. Today, the castles estate forms a part of the Cave Hill Country Park. "}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Is Belfast Castle free? The stairs are quite steep and might be slippery during the rainy season. [6] By 1802, these original castle sites had partially been built upon with other buildings. Belfast Castle is famously used to hold weddings, it is a popular avenue to hold business meetings, tea parties, and occasional dinner meet-ups! Apart from this, the castle is also famous for The Cave Hill Country Park, The Cave Hill Adventurous Playground, The Cave Hill Visitor Centre, and much more! In 1934, the Donegall family presented the castle and estate to the city. Theres a small cafe on the ground floor opening onto the terrace. In 1611, Sir Arthur Chichester, Baron of Belfast, built a stone and timber castle on the same The new, Victorian castle was built in the Scots Baronial architectural style and was designed by the Belfast firm of Lanyon, Lynn and Lanyon.