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Castle Caulfield today

Ireland · Ruin

Castle Caulfield

Castle Caulfield is a large early-17th-century house built for Sir Toby Caulfield in Castlecaulfield, County Tyrone. The building survives as substantial stone ruins and is a State Care Historic Monument in Lisnamonaghan.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1619

Today

Ruin

As it stood in 1619

What Castle Caulfield looked like in its prime.

A rectangular, multi-storey stone house with projecting square towers at the corners and along the façades, built of grey-brown rubble masonry with dressed corner stones and stone window surrounds. The walls are pierced by tall, narrow window and door openings; at prime the roofline would have been pitched with prominent chimneys rising above the towers. The house stands on a small raised grassy plot beside a low stone boundary wall and a village street; at prime it was fully roofed and enclosed.

Its story

The story of Castle Caulfield.

Castle Caulfield was built between 1611 and 1619 for Sir Toby Caulfield, on 1,000 acres granted to him at the start of the Plantation of Ulster. The land had previously belonged to the O'Donnelly family, closely connected to the O'Neill clan in Dungannon; the O'Donnelly fort stood a few miles west of the castle.

A large house for early-17th-century Ulster, it survives as substantial stone ruins. The gatehouse was rebuilt at a later date, though one of its doorways may have been reused. It is a State Care Historic Monument in the townland of Lisnamonaghan, in the village that took the family's name, Castlecaulfield.

Step inside

5 places to explore in 1619.

The record describes 5 distinct spots at Castle Caulfield, including the full exterior approach. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Street approach and boundary wallGatehouse and entranceMain façade and central blockSouthwest projecting towerGrassed inner courtyard

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Whose castle

Clans who held Castle Caulfield.

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

  • Caulfield

    Built for Sir Toby Caulfield, 1611–1619, on lands granted in the Plantation of Ulster.

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Castle Caulfield.

Navan Fort, IrelandAncient siteNavan Fort19 km away

Questions about Castle Caulfield

What is the history of Castle Caulfield?

Castle Caulfield was built in the early 17th century for Sir Toby Caulfield on 1,000 acres granted at the start of the Plantation of Ulster. Construction took place between 1611 and 1619. The land had previously belonged to the O'Donnelly family, whose fort stood a few miles west; the gatehouse was later rebuilt, possibly reusing one doorway.

Why was Castle Caulfield built, and what was it used for?

Castle Caulfield was built as a large house for Sir Toby Caulfield on land granted during the Plantation of Ulster. It was a substantial early-17th-century residence rather than a building whose later purpose is documented in the supplied material. The house now survives as substantial stone ruins.

Where is Castle Caulfield?

Castle Caulfield is in Castlecaulfield, County Tyrone, in the townland of Lisnamonaghan. It stands in the village that took the Caulfield family's name, within the Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council area. Castlecaulfield is the nearest named settlement given for the castle.

When was Castle Caulfield built?

Castle Caulfield was built between 1611 and 1619, placing it in the early 17th century. The supplied material does not record the year it was first raised, but it gives 1619 as its prime year. This indicates a construction period rather than a single documented foundation date.

Which family or clan held Castle Caulfield?

Castle Caulfield was held by the Caulfield family, and it was built for Sir Toby Caulfield. The family received 1,000 acres on which to build it at the start of the Plantation of Ulster. The land had previously belonged to the O'Donnelly family, who were closely connected to the O'Neill clan in Dungannon.

What did Castle Caulfield look like in its prime?

Castle Caulfield was a rectangular, multi-storey grey-brown rubble-stone house with projecting square towers at its corners and along the façades. Dressed corner stones and stone window surrounds framed tall, narrow openings. Its pitched roof had prominent chimneys rising above the towers, and the house stood on a small raised grassy plot beside a low stone boundary wall.

Is Castle Caulfield still standing, or is it a ruin?

Castle Caulfield is a ruin today, but substantial stone remains survive. The house is described as a large ruined house and as a State Care Historic Monument. Its gatehouse was rebuilt at a later date, although one doorway may have been reused; the supplied material does not quantify how much of the original fabric remains.

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