Bagenal's Castle (original) (raw)

Fortified house in County Down, Northern Ireland

Bagenal's Castle
Native name Caisleán Bagenal (Irish)
Bagenal's Castle in August 2016
Location Newry, County Down, Northern Ireland
Coordinates 54°10′22.8″N 6°20′9.6″W / 54.173000°N 6.336000°W / 54.173000; -6.336000
Built c. 1568[1]
Original use Residence for Sir Nicholas Bagenal and his family[1]
Restored c. 2007[2][3]
Architect Sir Nicholas Bagenal (1568)[1]
Website www.bagenalscastle.com
Bagenal's Castle is located in Northern IrelandBagenal's CastleLocation of Bagenal's Castle in Northern Ireland

Bagenal's Castle (Irish: Caisleán Bagenal) is a 16th century fortified house located in Newry, County Down, Northern Ireland.[4] It was rediscovered in 1996, where it was found located in the premises of the former McCann's Bakery.[5][6] The castle consists of a rectangular plan with three storeys and was made with granite. During its restoration, sandstone was used as the replacement material.[7]

Bagenal's Castle was built in 1568 in the area of a 12th century Cistercian abbey by Sir Nicholas Bagenal, who was granted ownership of the abbey by King Edward VI in 1552.[1]

The castle's appearance changed between the 18th and 19th century when the staircase tower was demolished around 1760 as the castle was being remodelled as a residence and when a warehouse was built next to the castle around 1830. The Ordnance Survey memoirs from the 1830s mention the castle was occupied as two houses and that fragments of carved stones from it were reused for surrounding buildings.[6]

The castle was mostly forgotten by the 1830s as it was not included in the Ordnance Survey maps. The Archaeological Survey of County Down stated that the castle has long since been destroyed, despite knowledge of its history being passed through several generations.[5]

The castle was bought in 1894 and converted into a bakery. In 1947, human bones were found while new ovens were being installed in the back of the castle. The many alterations had hidden the origins of the castle, making the only evidence the stone carvings that were preserved on the bakery's walls.[6]

After McCann's Bakery was sold, the castle was rediscovered by a team of historians in 1996 during the bakery's demolition. The Newry and Mourne District Council then made a decision to acquire the site.[8][9] The castle was then scheduled for restoration by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, who then entered into negotiations with the owners to see how they could accommodate it.[10]

Excavations of the site began around December 2000 and April 2003. The excavations revealed a series of stone steps that appeared to lead to a basement and the dividing wall seen on the 1568 ground floor plan.[11]

In March 2004, a project to restore the castle was planned by archaeologists and managed by Kevin Baird, who hoped to restore the castle and the connecting warehouse. The project cost £2.3m in total, with £1.5m being donated by the Heritage Lottery Fund.[12][13] The project began in Summer 2005, and finished around 2007.[2] Most of the castle's original features were restored, and the castle is now home to a museum.[10] The castle was opened to the public on 27 March 2007.[3]

  1. ^ a b c d "A Brief History of Bagenal's Castle" (PDF). Bagenal's Castle. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Newry and Mourne Museum Newsletter – SPRING/SUMMER 2005" (PDF). Bagenal's Castle. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Showcasing Our Heritage" (PDF). Bagenal's Castle. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 November 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  4. ^ "Newry and Mourne Museum, Bagenal's Castle". Discover Northern Ireland. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Bagenal's Castle". Bagenal's Castle. Archived from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  6. ^ a b c "McCann's Bakery". Bagenal's Castle. Archived from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  7. ^ "Bagenal's Castle, Newry". Natural Stone Database. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  8. ^ "Sixteenth century Newry castle re-emerges". Friends of the Irish Environment. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  9. ^ "Museum Eye". History Ireland. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Rediscovery and Restoration". Bagenal's Castle. Archived from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  11. ^ "Excavations". Bagenal's Castle. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  12. ^ "Move to restore city's 'lost castle'". BBC. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  13. ^ "Newry and Mourne Museum Newletter – Spring/Summer 2004" (PDF). Bagenal's Castle. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 November 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.