i88i-i88a.] 125 



in conjuctioR with the corbelling, &c. of the very similar castle 

 at Ardglass, makes it most probable that this, too, is not of De 

 Courcy's time, but of a period at least one hundred and fifty 

 years later. This castle is in good repair, and is still used as a 

 farm steading. 



Kirkistown Castle is also attributed by many to De Courcy. 

 On the writer's last visit the caretaker gave a date in the twelfth 

 century for its erection. This, however, is a mistake, and the 

 best judges believe it was built as late as the time of James I, 

 early in the seventeenth century. 



The machicolations round the top have some of them, it is 

 stated, merely blind openings in imitation of the earlier work. 

 It is said to be entirely Scotch in its origin, which statement 

 the name appears to confirm, and it is not situated in a similar 

 position to most of the other castles. It is surrounded by a fine 

 " Bawn" or fortified enclosure, with circular bastions or flank- 

 ing towers, three of which still remain. The whole forms 

 a rather picturesque group overlooking the sandy shores of 

 Cloughy Bay. 



Castle Ward is a simple square tower, about the size of 

 Audley's Castle, and is kept in good repair, being used as a 

 storehouse for corn, &c. The arrangement seems to have been 

 quite different from the others we have noted. The original 

 doorway is in the side, the walls — at least two of them— are very 

 thick, and the narrow stone stair goes up along the side in the 

 thickness of the wall. There is a projection corbelled out im- 

 mediately over the door, evidently for the same defensive pur- 

 pose as in the others. The work of this castle also, looks lo be 

 of a period rather later than de Courcy's time, so that one feels 

 doubt whether any of those described are of the twelfth century 

 after all. 



In the town of Strangford itself is a small castle, which 

 forms a very picturesque ivy clad adjunct to the little harbour. 

 Like the others, the ground floor is vaulted, but when exa- 

 mined during the excursion in June 1 88 1, there appeared no 

 indications to denote its age. Being used as a store it has also 



