Halyday’s Castle

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Set on a terrace near the top of a hill which slopes steeply down to Chapel Street.

Ruinous shell encompassing at least three rooms, all on different levels. One room has a partly collapsed semicircular vaulted basement. Possibly multi-phase as some of the walls are of rubble granite, others of brick, all externally cement rendered. No roofs or internal wooden floors survive. All the windows have semicircular brick heads. A random rubble curtain wall c. 2.5m high surrounds the complex on three sides and runs down to the bottom of the hillside.

Historical information

Nothing is shown at this location on the 1835 OS 6” map. It is marked on the 1859 edition as Halyday’s Castle. It is described in the 1863 valuation as ‘castle’, being occupied by George Wilkinson and valued at £3. The valuation revision books show it to be continuously occupied until 1930 if not later. One Robert Gass is entered as the occupant between 1866 and 1873. Interestingly, a James Halyday (a cabinetmaker of 73 Church St Newry), and Robert Gass (a wine and spirit merchant, 41 Water St, Newry) are signatories to an 1848 ‘loyal declaration’ by Orangemen. James Halyday also appears in the subscription list for the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church in (what is now) John Mitchel Place in 1848. According to Mrs Matt McAteer (Newry), it is also known as Fool’s Folly, and was reputedly erected by a bookmaker.

Primary Sources:

1. OS 6" map, 1st edition (1834) Co Down sheet 46 (PRONI OS 6/3/46/1)
2. OS 6" map, 2nd edition (1858) Co Down sheet 46 (PRONI OS 6/3/46/2)
3. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI VAL 2B/3/69.
4. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI VAL 12B/22/14
5. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI
VAL 12B/22/17.

Secondary Sources:

1. T 2961 (Orangemen’s declaration)
2. Subscription list cited in ‘personal name index’ under J Halyday (reference given therein is incorrect).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Ruinous shellof rubble granite. This building’s low rateable value and mid 19th century date all point to a fairly modest structure distinguished only by its unusual situation and name.