Old Crom Castle

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

The remains of an early 17thC castle with 19thC embellishments set on the S shore of Crom Castle Estate. The castle formerly consisted of a three storey gabled house with bawn and circular flankers. All remains are of rubble stone. Only the N gable of the house remains and is set at centre of the N wall of bawn.

The NE flanker has a square window opening to NW and NE and several small staggered openings. There is a lancet-headed door opening with brick head to SW. The N bawn wall abuts to E and is broken by the N gable (see later).

To left of the gable the bawn contains a Tudor-arched entrance to centre, which advances slightly and is set within a dressed stone reveal (each alternate stone projects) with keystone. To its left is a small window opening set in a deep splayed reveal. To its right are two arrow loops with stone lintels and cills.

The gable is flanked by a half-engaged round tower to left and a projecting section to right. Gable has a small window with splayed reveal, stone lintel and irregular stone jack arch set to right of centre at ground floor. The upper section projects slightly and has a rubble stone supporting-arch. To upper floor, set at left is a large window with repaired brick lintel and dressings and stone cill. The flanking round tower contains a window opening, facing NW. The projecting section is mostly ruinous. It has a brick infilled window set to each side at ground floor. The exposed cheeks are blank.

To left of the gable the bawn wall is blank.

NW flanker has two openings to ground floor and one to upper floor, facing W. It is abutted at S by the W face of the bawn which is aligned NW-SE until reaching a third circular flanker (ruinous). Immediately to left of this flanker is a second ogee-arched entrance accessed from the lough shore by eleven stone steps. It is detailed as that to N and has a stone paved threshold and thick dressed entrance walls. The bawn then runs E for a brief period before running due S alongside the Lough where it terminates in a square-in-section flanker at SW corner. The S facing wall is low and crenellated with particularly deep embrasures. The SW flanker contains three tall openings to each side.

Internally some low walls survive to foundation level but are ruinous. The gable contains a brick fire-opening to first and second floors (that to second floor is large with curved inside walls). The round tower which abuts to right has the remains of domed brick ceilings.

Setting:
The ruin is strategically placed to the SW of Crom Estate, with good vantage points over Lough Erne. To left of the castle is a ha-ha. The grounds contain the remains of formal gardens, now grown wild but including two ancient yew trees.

Historical information

The castle was begun in 1611 by Michael Balfour who had been granted land by the Crown the previous year. Its site was on the main route between the forts of Enniskillen and Belturbet. It was completed by Stephen Butler who acquired the property in 1616. Colonel Abraham Crichton (formerly Creighton) acquired the property through marriage in 1655.

By the late 1600s, the earlier bawn had been incorporated into a substantial three storey house. Unfortunately it accidentally burned down in 1764.

In 1831-32, sham ruins were added to create a landscape feature.

Secondary sources:
1. Terence Reeves-Smyth, Crom Castle Demesne (National Trust, 1990).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

The remains of an early 17thC castle with later picturesque embellishments beautifully located on the shores of Lough Erne at the SW part of Crom Estate. Added interest is given by the early 19th century additions. As such, it reflects both the estate’s origins and the subsequent development of the landscaped parkland.

General comments

This record was previously numbered HB12/02/013.