Clan Rising
Quintin Castle today

Ireland · Restored

Quintin Castle

Quintin Castle is a coastal castle in County Down, Northern Ireland, located on a low rocky headland east of Portaferry. Largely restored in the mid-19th century, it survives as a complex of stone towers and attached residential ranges and has passed through several owners and refurbishments into the 21st century.

Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

First raised

1859

Its prime

1850

Today

Restored

As it stood in 1850

What Quintin Castle looked like in its prime.

A compact cluster of grey-squared stone towers and connected ranges sits on a low rocky promontory protruding into a sheltered bay; a central, lighter-painted residential block with pitched slate roofs and gabled dormers contrasts with at least two square, crenellated stone towers. Low lawns and scattered trees rise behind the buildings, and the shoreline falls away to dark rocky outcrops and sea. Rooflines combine parapets and pitched roofs; the whole appears complete and occupied.

Its story

The story of Quintin Castle.

Quintin Castle stands on the County Down coast about four kilometres east of Portaferry. The Montgomerys sold the castle to George Ross, who never lived there, he preferred his Mount Ross estate a few miles outside Portaferry, and allowed it to decline into near ruin. In the early 19th century the castle was inherited by Elizabeth Calvert, née Blacker, a descendant of Ross, and restored in 1850.

Extensively refurbished by McGimpsey and Kane Builders, the castle last changed hands privately in late 2006, but its owner's troubles paying for renovation works forced it into the hands of administrators in 2012. In June 2013 NAMA sold Quintin Castle with 22 acres to the Tayto Group, which in July 2016 applied for permission to use it as an eight-bedroom private function venue for weddings, visiting customers, training and conferences.

Step inside

6 places to explore in 1850.

The record describes 6 distinct spots at Quintin 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.

Seaward approach from the bayRocky foreshore at the castle's baseSouth lawn facing the entrance frontBase of the main square towerView from the tower battlementsWooded parkland rising behind the castle

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Whose castle

Clans who held Quintin Castle.

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

  • Montgomery

    The Montgomerys held Quintin Castle before selling it to George Ross.

  • Ross

    Held by George Ross and his descendants; his descendant Elizabeth Calvert restored the castle in 1850.

Questions about Quintin Castle

What is the history of Quintin Castle?

Quintin Castle’s history reaches back to the 19th century, when the Montgomerys held it before selling it to George Ross. Ross never lived there and allowed it to decline into near ruin, while he lived at his Mount Ross estate. In the early 19th century, Elizabeth Calvert, née Blacker, inherited the castle and restored it in 1850. It was later extensively refurbished and changed hands privately in late 2006.

Where is Quintin Castle?

Quintin Castle is in County Down, about four kilometres east of Portaferry, on a low rocky headland by the coast. It is located in Ballymarter. The castle stands beside a sheltered bay, with rocky foreshore and wooded parkland behind it.

When was Quintin Castle built?

Quintin Castle was built in the 19th century. The site record gives 1859 as the year it was first raised, while another date records its restoration in 1850. Its present appearance reflects later restoration and refurbishment rather than a single unchanged building phase.

Which family or clan held Quintin Castle?

Quintin Castle was held first by the Montgomerys, who sold it to George Ross. It was then held by George Ross and his descendants. Elizabeth Calvert, née Blacker, a descendant of Ross, inherited the castle in the early 19th century and restored it in 1850.

What did Quintin Castle look like in its prime?

Quintin Castle appears as a compact cluster of grey-squared stone towers and connected residential ranges on a low rocky promontory. A lighter-painted central residential block has pitched slate roofs and gabled dormers, contrasting with at least two square, crenellated stone towers. Low lawns, scattered trees, dark rocky outcrops and sea surround the complete-looking complex.

Is Quintin Castle still standing or is it a ruin?

Quintin Castle is still standing and restored, rather than a ruin. George Ross allowed it to decline into near ruin, but Elizabeth Calvert restored it in 1850. It was later extensively refurbished by McGimpsey and Kane Builders, and survives as stone towers with attached residential ranges.
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