Castle Caldwell

Castle Caldwell lies in the Castle Caldwell Forest Park, a nature reserve on a small peninsula at the west end of Lower Lough Erne, in County Fermanagh, in Northern Ireland.

Castle Caldwell was built between 1612 and 1619, during the time of the Plantation of Ulster, by the Blennerhassetts, in classic Planter style; a bawn with 2 semicircular projecting flanker towers and a within it a strong house. Then it was probably named Hassett's Fort.

In the 1660s the estate was rented by the Blennerhassetts to the Caldwells, a well-to-do merchant family from Enniskillen, originally from Prestwick in Ayrshire, who bought it about 1672. In June 1683 the head of the Caldwell family was granted a hereditary baronetcy and in the same year the first reference to a family home named 'Castle Caldwell' occurred.

In the second part of the 18th century the castle was renovated several times. The end result has been variously described as 'delightful' and 'a paste board Gothic facade'.

In the early 1800s Castle Caldwell came into the hands of a Mr. Bloomfield who married a woman of Caldwell descent. In 1849 his son; John Caldwell Bloomfield, is said to have inherited the castle. He is also the founder of the Belleek Pottery factory in the nearby village of Belleek.

The estate was sold by auction in November 1876. I do not know how and when Castle Caldwell fell to ruin.

This is a beautiful castle ruin; one of my favorites. The park is freely accessible but the castle itself can not be visited because of its ruinous condition. The park itself is also nice and offers great views over Lower Lough Erne. There is also a ruined chapel with a small overgrown graveyard in the park.

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