Portaferry Castle, Castle Street, Portaferry, Co Down

Ruined, tower house, probably dating from the later 15th century. The building is situated to the W side of Castle Street, close to Portaferry town centre This castellated split-stone rubble three storey structure is square in plan with a (square) turret to the south west, and measures roughly 10.5 x 10m. The turret, including stone spiral stair, is largely intact. Curiously, this stairway rises in an anti-clockwise direction, making defence difficult. The interior of the main tower no longer remains, with the exception of some door and chimney openings, and traces of supports for floor joists. Brickwork to fireplace and other openings is not original. Traces of original pitched roof gable to north west. Large section of north east corner, above ground floor, has collapsed. Traces of gable of adjoining building (probably James Montgomery’s 17th century ‘fair slated stone house’- see historical information) on this side also. Sympathetic modern landscaping, with shrubbery, around castle.