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Audley's Castle today

Ireland · Ruin

Audley's Castle

Audley's Castle is a late medieval three-storey tower house standing on a rocky height overlooking Strangford Lough near Strangford, County Down, Northern Ireland. The stone tower sits within a thin-walled bawn and is noted locally for its paired turrets linked by a stone arch. The structure survives as a ruin on the Castleward estate and is a State Care Historic Monument.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1550

Today

Ruin

As it stood in 1550

What Audley's Castle looked like in its prime.

A compact three-storey rectangular tower house of roughly coursed pale-grey stone, rising from a grassy rocky mound and framed by trees. The tower displays narrow slit windows and a few larger first-floor openings, with two small projecting turrets linked by a stone arch at an upper level. A low thin bawn wall and simple gate enclose a small yard around the base. The roofline and battlement profile are truncated but would have capped the tower in its prime, overlooking Strangford Lough.

Its story

The story of Audley's Castle.

Audley's Castle is a 15th-century three-storey tower house on a rocky height overlooking Strangford Lough, a mile north-east of Strangford, named after its 16th-century owner, John Audley. Thousands of similar small stone towers dot the Irish countryside, buildings of the lesser lords and gentry rather than the higher aristocracy, most raised between roughly 1350 and 1550; Audley's was built towards the end of that period.

In 1646 the castle was bought by the Ward family, and it stands today on the grounds of Castle Ward, owned by Viscount Bangor. The nearby town of Audleystown lasted until the 1850s, when the Wards sent its inhabitants to America. The tower house and its bawn survive as a State Care Historic Monument, and served as a filming backdrop, standing in for the Twins, the Frey residence, in the "Red Wedding" episode.

Step inside

8 places to explore in 1550.

The record describes 8 distinct spots at Audley's Castle, including 4 interiors: ground-floor storage chamber, first-floor hall with fireplace, second-floor private chamber and more. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Exterior approach from the grassy slopeBawn courtyard and gateGround-floor storage chamberFirst-floor hall with fireplaceSecond-floor private chamberAttic and upper service spaceCorner turrets linked by archTop parapet and view over Strangford Lough

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Whose castle

Clans who held Audley's Castle.

The families that held Audley's Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Audley

    Named after its 16th-century owner, John Audley.

  • Ward

    Bought by the Ward family in 1646; the castle stands on their Castle Ward estate.

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Audley's Castle.

Parliament Buildings, IrelandSeat of powerParliament Buildings30 km awayWindsor Park, IrelandStadiumWindsor Park33 km awayCasement Park, IrelandStadiumCasement Park34 km away

Questions about Audley's Castle

What is the history of Audley's Castle?

Audley's Castle was built in the 15th century as a tower house for lesser lords or gentry. It was named after its 16th-century owner, John Audley, and was bought by the Ward family in 1646. The tower later became a ruin and now stands on the Castle Ward estate, where it has also served as a filming backdrop.

What is inside Audley's Castle?

Audley's Castle contains a storage chamber on the ground floor, a first-floor hall with a fireplace, a second-floor private chamber, and attic and upper service space. The ground floor was used for storing provisions, while the first floor was used by the owner for living and entertaining. The attic could accommodate servants and others.

Why was Audley's Castle built, and what was it used for?

Audley's Castle was built as a residence and defensive tower for lesser lords or gentry rather than the higher aristocracy. Its first floor was used by the owner to live in and entertain friends, while the second floor provided private family space. The bawn and thin enclosing wall formed a small yard around the tower.

Where is Audley's Castle?

Audley's Castle is near Strangford, on a rocky height overlooking Strangford Lough in County Down. It stands about 1 mile north-east of Strangford, on the Castle Ward estate. The site is within the townland of Castleward.

When was Audley's Castle built?

Audley's Castle was built in the 15th century, towards the end of the late-medieval building period from roughly 1350 to 1550. The site's first-raised year is not recorded. It is therefore best dated to the 15th century rather than to a specific year.

Which family or clan held Audley's Castle?

The Audley family held Audley's Castle through John Audley, its 16th-century owner. The Ward family bought the castle in 1646, and it now stands on their Castle Ward estate. The site was named after John Audley rather than after the later Ward owners.

What did Audley's Castle look like in its prime?

In its prime, Audley's Castle was a compact three-storey rectangular tower of roughly coursed pale-grey stone on a grassy rocky mound. Narrow slit windows, larger first-floor openings and two projecting turrets shaped its exterior. The turrets were linked by a stone arch, while a low bawn wall and simple gate enclosed the yard.

Is Audley's Castle still standing, or is it a ruin?

Audley's Castle survives as a ruin. Its three-storey tower, bawn and thin enclosing wall remain on the Castle Ward estate, although the roofline and battlement profile are truncated. It is designated a State Care Historic Monument.

Can you visit Audley's Castle?

Audley's Castle can be visited as a public park. The castle ruins were also used as a filming location, including as a backdrop for the Twins, the Frey residence, in the Red Wedding episode of Game of Thrones.

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