# Audley's Castle

- **Country:** Ireland
- **Coordinates:** 54.379600, -5.571940
- **Notes:** Audley Castle is a 15th-century bawn constructed by its namesake the Audleys on a rocky hill 1.6 from Strangford Lough. In 1646, the tower passed into the keeping of the Wards of Castle Ward. In the 18th century the tower was incorporated into the parks of the Castle Ward estate. The tower remains standing though the bawn is largely ruined.
- **Year Built:** 15th century
- **Castle Type:** Bawn
- **Location Text:** Strangford

Audley's Castle is a ruined Norman tower house situated approximately one mile north-east of Strangford in County Down, Northern Ireland. Perched on a rocky elevation with commanding views over Strangford Lough, the structure dates back to the 15th century, placing its construction toward the end of the great era of Irish tower building between 1350 and 1550. Constructed primarily of stone, the castle exemplifies the architectural style common among lesser lords and gentry of the late Middle Ages, rather than the high aristocracy. It consists of a three-storey tower enclosed within a bawn, which is a courtyard protected by a thin wall and a simple gate. This layout reflects the defensive yet domestic needs of local landowners during a turbulent period in Irish history.

The internal arrangement of the castle reveals much about daily life in the 15th century. The ground floor served as a secure storage area for provisions, featuring small windows and lacking domestic amenities like fireplaces. The first floor acted as the main living and entertaining space, equipped with larger windows, a substantial fireplace likely used for cooking, and a latrine with a chute for waste disposal. The second floor was reserved as the private sleeping quarters for the lord and his family, while servants were accommodated in the attic. The castle derives its current name from John Audley, a notable owner during the 16th century, though it originally served various local families.

Today, Audley's Castle stands as a State Care Historic Monument within the townland of Castleward. While it is now a ruin, the site remains an important archaeological landmark that illustrates the prevalence of small stone towers across the Irish countryside. Thousands of similar structures once dotted the landscape, serving as fortified homes for the gentry class. Although specific details regarding its current accessibility to the public are not explicitly detailed in historical records, its designation ensures the preservation of this significant piece of Northern Ireland's medieval heritage for future study and appreciation.

![Photo of Audley's Castle](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/de/A_southerly_view_of_Audley%27s_castle%2C_County_Down_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1659939.jpg)

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audley's_Castle (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)