Site of Ringdufferin Castle, near Ringdufferin House, 35 Ringdufferin Road, Ringdufferin, Near Killyleagh, Co. Down, BT30 9PH

Site, c.2.5 miles N/NE of Killyleagh, amidst well wooded grounds overlooking the E coast of Strangford Lough of a former castle or tower house built c.1590-1600. Today there is no visible evidence of this castle, with the general site taken up with Ringdufferin House (a large gentleman’s residence mainly dating from the late 18th century) and its adjacent and probably contemporary rubble–built outbuildings. The actual position of the castle is not certain. It is conceivable that the present house stands on its site and may incorporate some of the its fabric, but there is as yet no apparent documentary or physical evidence to suggest this. It may well be the case that it actually stood on the isthmus to the S of the present house, an area which is in fact called Castle Island.