Kilclief Castle - This impressive tower-house was reputedly built by John Sely, Bishop of Down, between 1413 and 1441 when he was dismissed for living with Letticia Thomas, a married woman. This makes it the earliest datable tower-house in Co. Down, and this monument is often used to date other tower-houses in the county.
Its features include the high machicolation arch between projecting towers, a local feature displayed here, at Audley’s Castle and at Margaret’s and Jordan’s Castles in Ardglass. The machicolation protects the entrance leading to a spiral stair in the south-east tower.
In the north-east tower is a latrine shaft with access from three of the four floors. As at Jordan’s Castle, the ground floor chamber has a semicircular barrel vault built on wicker centring. On the second floor a 13th century coffin-lid from the nearby church was reused as a lintel for the fireplace and on the third floor crosses can be seen cut into a window. The two-light window in the east wall is a modern reconstruction based on a surviving fragment.
Access Information:
Opening Times – Daily during July and August: - 1:00 to 5:00p.m.
Admission – Free
Site is not suitable for disabled access
There are no facilities on site
The cache is a 200ml snap-lock type container. It holds a log, pencil and lots of small motorcycle-related swapsies. We were out on our motorcycles at the time of hiding this cache.
Please park in the carpark and take a stroll to GZ.
