Since then, it has once again become a popular spot for weddings and other celebrations as well as for business meetings. [60], Since the construction of the current Belfast Castle in the late 1860s, its sandstone walls and towers have been restored. 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. Belfast Castle (Irish: Caislen Bhal Feirste[2][3]) is a mansion located in Cave Hill Country Park in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in a prominent position 400 feet (120m) above sea level. Some architectural historians believe that the chapel, like the castle, was designed by either W.H. The Queen's University of Belfast: The History Of The City. These include: Ulster Museum; Nomadic Ship [9], There have been several different structures called 'Belfast Castle' over the centuries; not all of these structures have been on the same site. [57][58] It is almost certain that Chichester had his 'Plantation' castle built on the site of the Gaelic U Nill towerhouse. 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. Reginalds body was washed ashore the following day but Maeves body was never recovered. One night, after her father had locked her in one of the castle towers, Reginald managed to rescue her, they ran to Mermaids Cave beneath the castle where they escaped by rowing boat. These housing estates, all built in the 1950s and 1960s, included Innisfayle Park, Downview Park West and Strathmore Park. The castle was originally built in 1500 by the McQuillans, who came from Scotland in the 1200s as hired mercenaries and built the castle around 200 years later. Sir John Chichester, who had been appointed as Governor of Carrickfergus Castle, soon fell out with the previously neutral MacDonnells of the Glens. [73] At that time, the Ormeau Demesne was on the south-eastern edge of Belfast, being in Ballynafeigh on the County Down side of the River Lagan. [91] The architect of this elaborate, serpentine outdoor staircase is unknown. This castle has a long and tumultuous history, well worth exploring. It is the sites earliest known occupation. 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. [48][49][50][51] Most of this huge Inishowen estate was eventually sold off by the Chichester family via the Encumbered Estates Court in the 1850s and later in the nineteenth century.[52][53][54][55]. [37] After three days and nights of feasting and celebrations inside Belfast Castle, the English soldiers accompanying Lord Essex suddenly set upon and murdered most of the family and retainers of Sir Brian inside the castle. But the locals say they can still hear the screams of the kitchen staff over the sound of the sea waves. The town also had a dungeon and a courthouse. [9][116] Like the former Chapel of the Resurrection, the Gate Lodge is now surrounded by modern housing and is no longer part of the present-day Belfast Castle Demesne. Carrickfergus Castle 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. Spring Spectacular at Hillsborough Castle. The fire killed three sisters and one servant of The 4th Earl of Donegall, a descendant of the Chichester family. Facts Designed and built in the Victorian version of theScots Baronial Styleand constructed withpink Scrabo sandstone, the castle is a dream come true. [87][106], Harriet, Countess of Shaftesbury (1836-1898), the wife of The 8th Earl of Shaftesbury, later commissioned a sculpture to commemorate her brother, Lord Belfast, and her mother, Harriet, Marchioness of Donegall (1822-1860),[106] the daughter of The 1st Earl of Glengall and the first wife of The 3rd Marquess of Donegall. The earliest castle was built by the Normans in the late 12th century. Recent Posts Interesting facts about Table Tennis Interesting facts about Shrek Interesting facts about the Baroque Interesting facts about Peter Paul Rubens Though the castle had to close down for a few years and reopened in 1988, it is now a renowned venue to host Weddings, Business Meetings, and similar events. [103][106] The graves of the deceased in the chapel were also desecrated by vandals during these years. Theres a small cafe on the ground floor opening onto the terrace. Northern Irelands capital is bustling with great food spots, as youll discover in our guide to the best restaurants in Belfast. [46][47][48] However, very little of this Inishowen estate was ever run directly by the head of the Chichester family; from the early seventeenth century onwards, almost all of this vast estate was sublet by the Chichesters to several lesser landlords, often described as 'middlemen', on very long-term leases. WebFacts about Belfast. It was The 3rd Marquess of Donegall who finally sold off almost all of his family's Belfast estate in the 1850s. [81][82] This new residence was called Belfast Castle, in a nod to family history, even though it was built on a completely different site, and in a completely different area, from the original castle site, which had been located right in the centre of Belfast. He had only succeeded his famous father in the earldom in October 1885. Beyond Belfast Castle and Cave Hill, the city has lots of interesting historical sites, museums, galleries and shops. This current grand turreted castle was built in 1862 by the 3rd Marquis of Donegall, a descendant of the Chichester family.The Scottish Baronial architectural style was designed by architect John Lanyon, whose father Charles designed the Palm House in Belfasts Botanic Gardens. 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. In order to display distances relevant to you, we'd like to be able to use your GPS location. Discover Walks contributors speak from all corners of the world - from Prague to Bangkok, Barcelona to Nairobi. In order to display distances relevant to your current position, we'd need to be able to use your GPS location. 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. [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. It also features the plants and animals that live in Cave Hill County Park within the woodland, heath, cliffs, caves and two nature reserves. 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 Chapel of the Resurrection was also built for The 3rd Marquess of Donegall in the late 1860s, at the same time as the new Belfast Castle. Homepage, Eat & Drink Other items that have been uncovered are gaming pieces, bone combs, a bronze tuning pin, dress fastenings, and wine glass stems. [113], The lodge was built in uncoursed squared quarry-faced sandstone, honey coloured with pink ashlar dressings. He settled at what became known as Donegall House, a large terraced house on the corner of what is now Donegall Place and Donegall Square North, only a few hundred yards from the original site of Belfast Castle, right in the centre of the town of Belfast[68][69] (it did not officially become a city until November 1888[70][71][72]). WebIn 1797 the Castle, which had on various occasions been used to house prisoners of war, became a prison and it was heavily defended during the Napoleonic Wars; six guns on the east battery remain of the twenty-two that were used in 1811. It was finished in 1870. The Mermaids Cave is located just below Dunluce Castle which is, in reality, a large cavern. The house has its walls still intact with a fireplace and internal privy. [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. The medieval Belfast Castle was eventually seized by a branch of the powerful U Nill (ONeill) dynasty of the Cnel nEgain, probably at the end of the fourteenth-century or the beginning of the fifteenth-century. As with Belfast Castle itself, there is some debate over who actually designed the Chapel of the Resurrection. Youll find everything from vegan restaurants and lively spots for bottomless brunch to great places for breakfast in Belfast. [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. 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. The McQuillans held the castle for about 55 years before it was taken by the MacDonnells, who came over from Islay in 1554. 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. Can you remember?. Stay on for the 10 amazing facts about Dunluce Castle. The boat was dashed against the rocks and both were killed. Placenamesni.org: Aldfreck, County Antrim. Homepage, Business Events Belfast and Northern Ireland, Belfast Castle is one of the city's most famous landmarks, Breathtaking views of the city from Cave Hill Country Park, The award-winning Cave Hill Adventurous Playground, Learn about the history at Cave Hill Visitor Centre, Shop in the Victorian-style Castle Antiques area. Belfast Castle was passed to the Shaftesburys in October 1883. It was situated in Belfast city centre on Castle Place. {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Is Belfast Castle worth visiting?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes! ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes, there is no admission fee for visiting the castle. Belfast is home to many museums that tell its history, culture and daily life. Another way is to take a taxi from Belfast to Belfast Castle, hire a cab or simply walk. 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. 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. 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. Join us A Castle existed from the earliest times, but the arrival of John De Courci, in 1171, made a great change throughout the North of Ireland. The Chichester castle features prominently to the top right of Thomas Phillips' map of Belfast in 1685. A Guide To Weather, Seasons + Climate, How To Get Around In Ireland: The Pros + Cons To Cars, Tours and Public Transport, Airports in Ireland: Where They Are And Which Is The Best To Fly Into, Some quick need-to-knows before visiting Belfast Castle, 2. Location. What are the opening hours for Belfast Castle. Have you heard it? The castle was built on a hill known as Castle Rock , a volcanic plug that formed following an eruption 340 million We create informative articles about castles and famous historical figures such as kings and queens. The castle sits atop a volcano But no need to fear the volcanic explosion that formed Castle Rock last exploded nearly 340 million years ago. The 2nd Marquess of Donegall became the first head of his family in almost a century to actually live in Belfast. [1][89][90] He also served as: Lord Lieutenant of Belfast from 1904 to 1911; Lord Lieutenant of Antrim from 1911 to 1916; and Chancellor of The Queen's University of Belfast from 1909 to 1923. 24 No-one knows what the original name means. Its foundation on basalt rock probably contributed to its survival, and ability to withstand the never-ending pounding of Atlantic waves and winds. R.Q.I.A. Rooms of the castle have now been converted into public tea rooms that can be booked for tea parties or meetings. [115], 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. [60] The Cavehill Visitor Centre is located inside the castle. Belfast Castle There are four ways to get to Carrickfergus from Belfast. Belfast Featuring on theHBO TV serieswasnt the first time that Dunluce Castle was shown to the world. There are some waymarkers but in many places there is no signage at all so youll find a downloaded map very useful. One of the beauties of visiting Belfast Castle is that its a short spin away from many of the best things to do in Belfast. The castle we see today was built in Scottish Baronial style, and the construction was completed in 1870. The exhibits on Belfast Castle show how it might have looked 100 years ago as a family home. Image by MorningbirdPhoto from Pixabay, S. Lewis is said to have been inspired by the castle in his portrayal of Cair Paravel, the royal castle of Narnia in his famous book series The Chronicles Of Narnia..

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