Clan Rising
Killevy Castle today

Ireland · Partial ruin

Killevy Castle

Killeavy Castle is a 19th-century castellated country house in County Armagh built for the Foxall family and altered by architect George Papworth in 1836 to add towers and Tudor-style windows. It is a Grade A listed building that has been sold and subject to restoration plans and grants in the 21st century.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

First raised

1839

Its prime

1836

Today

Partial ruin

As it stood in 1836

What Killevy Castle looked like in its prime.

A small 19th-century castellated country house set in pasture at the foot of a wooded slope, built of light-coloured stone and extended with four square towers added in 1836. The principal block is two storeys with tall Tudor-style windows and a symmetrical frontage flanked by towers; low outbuildings sit to one side. Trees and hedged fields enclose the site and a line of woodland rises immediately behind the house.

Its story

The story of Killevy Castle.

Killeavy Castle began life as a country farmhouse, built for the Foxall family between 1810 and 1820 and later designed to resemble Gosford Castle in Markethill, also in County Armagh. In 1836 the Foxalls commissioned the architect George Papworth to add four towers, outbuildings and Tudor-style windows, giving the house its castellated form.

By 1881 the castle had come into the ownership of the Bell family, where it remained until the death of Maureen Bell in 2000. Since sold at auction for £1.19 million, the Grade A listed building was granted £1 million by Invest Northern Ireland for restoration, with plans announced in 2013.

Step inside

6 places to explore in 1836.

The record describes 6 distinct spots at Killevy Castle, 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.

Approach across the parkFront façade and main entranceNorth-west corner tower exteriorSouth-east corner tower exteriorOutbuildings and service yardView from the woodland edge

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Recreate Killevy Castle with AI to explore it.

The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1836, a photoreal reconstruction that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.

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Whose castle

Clans who held Killevy Castle.

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

  • Foxall

    Built for the Foxall family between 1810 and 1820; they commissioned its castellated remodelling by George Papworth in 1836.

  • Bell

    Held by the Bell family from 1881 until the death of Maureen Bell in 2000.

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Killevy Castle.

Navan Fort, IrelandAncient siteNavan Fort32 km away

Questions about Killevy Castle

What is the history of Killevy Castle?

Killevy Castle began as a country farmhouse built for the Foxall family in the early 19th century. In 1836, George Papworth added four towers, outbuildings and Tudor-style windows, creating its castellated form. The Bell family owned it from 1881 until Maureen Bell’s death in 2000; it was later sold at auction and restoration plans were announced in 2013.

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

Killevy Castle was built as a country farmhouse for the Foxall family, rather than as a military fortress. Its purpose later became that of a castellated country house after George Papworth added towers, outbuildings and Tudor-style windows in 1836. The building was designed to resemble Gosford Castle in Markethill.

Where is Killevy Castle?

Killevy Castle is in Clonlum, in County Armagh. It stands in pasture at the foot of a wooded slope, with trees and hedged fields around the site. The castle is in County Armagh, Northern Ireland.

When was Killevy Castle built?

Killevy Castle was built in the 19th century. It began as a country farmhouse built for the Foxall family between 1810 and 1820, then gained its castellated form in 1836 when four towers, outbuildings and Tudor-style windows were added. The supplied dates therefore describe a building developed in phases.

Which family or clan held Killevy Castle?

The Foxall family held Killevy Castle from its construction between 1810 and 1820 and commissioned its castellated remodelling in 1836. The Bell family held it from 1881 until the death of Maureen Bell in 2000. It was subsequently sold at auction.

What did Killevy Castle look like in its prime?

Killevy Castle was a small, light-coloured stone country house with a symmetrical two-storey frontage. Four square towers flank the principal block, which has tall Tudor-style windows; low outbuildings sit to one side. Pasture, hedged fields and woodland enclose the house, with a wooded slope rising immediately behind it.

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

Killevy Castle is partially ruined today. It is a Grade A listed building, and restoration plans were announced in 2013 with a £1 million grant from Invest Northern Ireland. The available material does not state how much of the original fabric survives.

Who built Killevy Castle?

Killevy Castle was commissioned by the Foxall family and remodelled by architect George Papworth. The Foxalls commissioned Papworth in 1836 to add four towers, outbuildings and Tudor-style windows, transforming the earlier farmhouse into a castellated country house.

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