Audley's Castle, Audleystown Rd, north of Strangford village.
A fortified private house built by the Audley family in the 15th century - one of the many 'tower-houses' in the area. Window seats and latrines still visible.
Open: House: April, September & October, weekends 1-6pm. May to end August, daily (except Thursday), 1-6pm Last tour 5pm. Estate & grounds open all year, dawn till dusk (admission charge for car park only). Admission charge; shop; dogs on leads in grounds only; guide dogs admitted; restaurant; picnics welcome.
Disabled access to the house accessible via six steps; access to formal garden, restaurant and interpretation centre; car park for disabled drivers behind stables, (limited spaces); disabled visitors may be set down at house.
Set in a 700-acre country estate on the shores of Strangford Lough, this unique 18th century mansion has opposing facades in different styles; the west front is Classical, and the east front Gothick. In the stable yard there is a Victorian laundry.
The sunken Parterre Garden was created by the Ward family in the 19th century on the site of an earlier 18th century walled garden. There is a marble statue of Neptune standing in a circular pool. The borders around the sunken gardens contain a remarkable collection of tender perennials and shrubs. A row of Irish yews are pruned to resemble its depiction in a 19th century painting.
Above the sunken garden is a Victorian rockery and pinetum and close to the shores of the lough is Temple Water, an early 18th century canal-shaped lake, one of the few remaining 18th century landscape features in Ireland. A 19th century lime walk was planted on the site of a second small canal which was cleared and replanted in 1984 after many of the original trees had fallen. Behind the 17th century tower house is a 3-step common yew terrace, dating back to the 18th century.
Audley's Castle - Strangford
Landmarks