Gosford Castle

Gosford Castle stands in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, as a 19th-century country house built for the Earls of Gosford. Designed by Thomas Hopper in the Norman revival style, it is Ulster’s largest castle and a Grade A listed building. The Acheson family first received land here in 1610 after the Plantation of Ulster. Their earlier castle was destroyed in 1641, and a manor house replaced it before the current structure was commissioned. The gardens were once shaped with help from Jonathan Swift, who visited in the 18th century. The castle remained in the family until 1921, when it passed to the Ministry of Agriculture and became part of Gosford Forest Park. The castle’s history includes military use during the Second World War and a brief period as a hotel in the 1980s. By 2002 it was in severe disrepair, nearly beyond saving, prompting calls for action from heritage groups. In 2006 it was sold for £1,000 to a development company that restored the building into 23 private homes. The £4 million project preserved key features like staircases, vaulted ceilings, and original colour schemes in principal rooms. Local craftsmen worked to maintain the castle’s historic character while converting it for modern living. Visitors today find a restored castle with private dwellings arranged around the original courtyard. The Inner Hall still shows its vaulted ceiling, and walls retain painted schemes of green drapery and scarlet backgrounds. The grounds cover 11 hectares within Gosford Forest Park, offering walking paths through the wider estate. The castle also served as a filming location for Game of Thrones, standing in for Riverrun. Its grounds and architecture reflect centuries of history, from the Acheson family’s arrival to its rescue and reuse in the 21st century.