I am seeking information about The Castle
which once stood at Harbour Road in Ballintoy Village on
North Coast of Antrim Northern Ireland. The Castle
was built by Archibald Stewart son of Ninian Stewart of
Bute, circa 1590.
The Estate was sold to (Fullerton
Downing ?) in 1760 who demolished the Castle 40 years prior
to OS 6" map survey by Lt Thomas Colby in 1824 ( recorded in
Ordnance Survey Memoirs N Antrim Map ).
“ The ruins
of Ballintoy Castle is situated on a handsome site about ine
half mile wes of the village of Ballintoy and about two
furlongs south of the sea shore, and contiguous to the
parish church. Of this once splendid and extensive building,
nothing now remains but 65 feet in length of the ear wall of
one of the squares. It varies from 2 to 10 feet high, 2 and
a half feet thick, corners of cut free stone and the
remainder of whin quarry stone, and bound togetjer by
grouted mortar similar to other ancient buildings. Several
of the office houses, garden walls, court walls is still
extant, but much disfigured by delapidation and sundry
alterations. There was a handsome fish pond togetjer with
the grounds surrounding it, enclosed by a high stone and
lime wall.The castle, towers, courtyards, gardens, yards and
other enclosures were very extensive, as may be seen by the
ruins now extant, and all walls and parpets of stone and
lime and strongly built of best materials. The office houses
are changed to dwelling and office houses to accommodate
farmers who at present reside on the site and farm the
demesne. The castle was pulled down about 40 years ago by
the present Proprietor Fullerton Downey Esquire and the
timber and other valuble material sold by auction.
Informants James Scally and others. 6th April
1838.
1824 6" map shows a collection of large
houses with surrounding wall and partially surrounded by a
stream.
The last remaining Stewart moved his
Acton Estate in Co Armagh after the sale.
There must be some remaining record of
the castle possibly left by The Stewarts of Acton.
Hopefully someone will be able to assist.
