Roxborough Castle
Roxborough Castle was a historic estate located in Moy, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, serving as the principal seat of the Earls of Charlemont alongside Charlemont Fort. Originally constructed in 1738 during the 18th century, the building underwent significant architectural transformations over the following decades. In 1842, architect William Murray remodelled the structure for the second Earl, adding expansive wings in a restrained Italianate style and altering the entrance to create a façade reminiscent of a French château. Further enhancements included the addition of a conservatory designed by the renowned iron-founder Richard Turner between 1850 and 1855.
The castle's evolution continued in 1864 when the third Earl commissioned architect William Barre to undertake additional remodelling efforts. This phase involved installing interior fittings transferred from the family's Dublin residence, Charlemont House, ensuring the property remained a sophisticated reflection of the Caulfeild family's status. Throughout these renovations, the estate maintained its position as a significant landmark within County Tyrone, blending original 18th-century foundations with Victorian-era grandeur and diverse architectural influences ranging from Italianate details to French chateau aesthetics.
Despite its rich history and architectural merit, the castle met a tragic end in 1922 when it was burned out by the Irish Republican Army during the turbulent period of the Irish War of Independence. The destruction marked the conclusion of the building's functional life, leaving it as a ruined testament to the region's volatile past. Today, Roxborough Castle stands categorized among the buildings and structures in the United Kingdom destroyed by arson, remembered primarily through historical records and pre-1918 imagery rather than as an extant physical structure.
Details
- Notes
- The castle, originally built in 1738 as the seat of the Earl of Charlemont, was remodeled by architect William Murray in the Italianate style in 1842 for the second Viscount of Charlemont. Further remodeling later by the Second Viscount's resulted in a house that resembled a French château. The castle was again renovated in 1864 by the Third Viscount before the castle was razed to the ground by the Irish Republican Army in 1922.
- Year Built
- 1738
- Castle Type
- Country house
- Location Text
- Moy