Walled garden at

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A walled garden of oblong form, laid out on an east to west axis with north and south sides parallel, with a straight side to the west with curved corners to north and south, and the east side composed of a large sweeping arc.

Walls built of basalt rubble to the exterior, with a coping of limestone blocks now much deteriorated. Large buttress walls project at outer corners and at intermediate points on south wall and east wall: built of coursed limestone but all deteriorated at outer extremities; not keyed into main wall but abutting it. Segmental arched main entrance faces east. Buttress to right of main entrance now incorporated into a modern garden shed. Rectangular doorway with flat arch near centre of south side of garden wall.

Against wall on north side, a long low lean-to block in greystone, with various segmental arched openings, some now blocked with cement render; original function not known but now used as hen houses.

Interior faces of garden wall lined with brickwork except for central portions of north and south sides which are of basalt rubble, with some courses of brickwork continuous around south side. Brick dressings, including segmental arch, to inside face of doorway in south wall.

Ground slopes down gently from west to east within outer walls, with an intermediate wall known as a ‘fruit wall’ running across garden from north to south, constructed of coursed squared limestone blocks with a rectangular pier at each end which stops well short of boundary walls of garden; sandstone coping slabs with wide overhang all round; some spalling to limestone blocks in places including corners of end piers; large segmental archway in centre of wall.

Along north side of boundary wall of garden, on inside, top of wall ramps up to higher level where former greenhouse stood; original greenhouses now gone but terraced areas still remain, supported on south side by low segmental arcading of greystone. Inner face of wall behind greenhouse area has various rectangular window and door openings mainly in derelict state.

Setting: the walled garden is situated on a sloping area of land within the demesne of Kilwaughter Castle; it stands a short distance to the north of the castle surrounded by agricultural land with a 13th century motte nearby to the south-east. A modern garage is built close up to the wall to the south of the main entrance and a house of modern appearance stands just to the east of it.

Historical information

Appears on OS map of 1832. Built in association with the early 19th century development of Kilwaughter Castle. The structure impinges on the area of a scheduled monument, no. ANT 40:5.

References - Primary Sources

1. OS Map 1832, Co Antrim 40.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

V. Authorship
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A walled garden with interesting detailing that forms part of a group with the other Kilwaughter Castle buildings.