


We visited this castle in 2008.
Strangford Castle lies in the village of Strangford, in County Down, in Northern Ireland.
The present Strangford Castle is a simple, small, 3-storey, rectangular tower house built in the late
16th century, however a blocked door of 15th century type at first floor level, seems to indicate the
remodelling of an earlier tower. The castle has no vault or stone stairway; there would have been
ladders to the upper floors.
The current entrance, in the north east wall, is protected by a machicolation. The ground floor
chamber is lit only by small gun-loops. There is an oven in the fireplace on the first floor. There
are rather nice window seats in the windows of the upstairs rooms. The original floors, like their
modern replacements, were made of wood. The roof has very fine crenellations with gun-loops. The
building was considerably restored shortly after 1960 when it was taken into State Care.
At present the castle does not seem to be used. It was closed when we visited and I don't know if
it is ever accessible. To me it is just a plain tower house.
Across from the village of Strangford, on the other side of the mouth of Strangford Lough, lies the
village of Portaferry, with Portaferry Castle.


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