| Location | Portaferry, County Down, Northern Ireland (Google Maps) |
| Open for Visitors | No |
| Owned By | The Tayto Group |
| Rooms Available | Yes (Weddings, Events, Filming) |
Quintin Castle is one of the fewer inhabited Anglo-Norman castles in Ulster, Northern Ireland. It is located in the Ards Peninsula, east of the village of Portaferry on the shore of the Irish Sea, in County Down, in Northern Ireland. The location of the castle provides the visitors with an unprecedented view of the surrounding landscape.
History of Quintin Castle
Quintin Castle was built in 1184 by John de Courcy, an Anglo-Norman Knight who had conquered substantial parts of Ireland from 1176. The castle was later occupied by the Savage family and subsequently by their descendants, the Smith family. In the 17th century, Sir James Montgomery purchased the Quintin Castle and estate from Dulaltaigh Smith. Later on, The Montgomerys sold the castle to George Ross, but he never lived in the castle and failed to take care of it, leading it to become a near ruin. However, in the early 19th century, the castle was inherited by Elizabeth Calvert, who restored the castle to its former glory in 1850, saving it from ultimate ruin. In due course, the castle was purchased by the Burgess family, who resided there from the early 1930s until the 1950s. The castle was then purchased by Skeets Martin, an auctioneer from Belfast, who lived with his wife in the castle until the early 1970s. However, in 1978 the castle was opened as a private old age home for many years until the property was sold into private ownership.
Architecture
Quintin Castle has seen many modifications and renovations in the hands of its many owners but remains the charming well preserved Anglo-Norman castle. The castle looks lavish and magnificent with stone walls, terrace gardens, and charming interiors. William Montgomery, the son of James Montgomery, made major contributions to the castle by building a walled courtyard and other smaller towers, adding a large house adjacent to the central tower and the kitchen to the seaward side of the castle structure. Then the castle was re-roofed, and new floors were added, all probably before 1659.
Renovations at a large scale took place under Elizabeth Calvert in 1850 when the castle’s central keep was raised and a walkway made within the towers. A massive stone wall was built to enclose most of the castle’s grounds. A drawing-room was constructed to open into the inner gardens, and a dining room was built on the ground floor of the great tower.
Movie Features
Game of Thrones (2011-2019)– The record-breaking Television series Game of Thrones adapted from the book series ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ by George R. R. Martin features Quintin Castle in Episode 2: The House of Black and White of Season 5 as Castle Stokeworth. The series stars Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington, Sophie Turner, Lena Headley, and Maisie Williams as lead actors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns Quintin Castle?
Quintin Castle is presently owned by The Tayto Group, which took the reins of the castle in June 2013. They received permission to utilize the castle estate as an 8-bedroom private function venue for weddings, conferences, and other small-scale events.
Can you visit Quintin Castle?
As Quintin Castle is presently under private ownership, visitors are not allowed.
Have you visited this castle before? If yes, why not share some beautiful pictures with us!
You can email us your pictures of the castle at castrumtocastle@gmail.com. Please use the name of the castle in the subject line.
Also, don’t forget to mention your name and social media profile link if you want the credits!
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Debayan Dey
He is a versatile E-Learning Support Officer and former Academic Officer at the University of York, United Kingdom. Not just an expert in education and technology, Debayan also has a deep love for castles and mountains. With a passion for travel, having explored 168+ cities worldwide, and a keen eye for photography, He brings a unique blend of experiences to the table. Specializing in E-learning content, IT support, AR development, and software engineering, Debayan has made a significant impact, educating over 200,000 students on Udemy.
