Quoile Castle, 16th-century tower house in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland
Quoile Castle is a square tower built from split stone rubble with sandstone trim rising three stories tall on the east bank of River Quoile. The structure sits within the grounds of the Quoile Countryside Centre and occupies a position that overlooks the waterway below.
Captain Richard West built this fortified residence in the late 16th century, and his family lived here until the 18th century. The structure was erected during an era when such towers were essential for local control and protection across Irish territory.
The tower represents a typical Irish defensive residence from when local nobles built fortified homes throughout the region. These structures shaped how people organized their lands and displayed power within their communities.
The site sits within the Quoile Countryside Centre grounds, making access and finding your way straightforward. Its location near the main road between Downpatrick and Strangford means you can reach it easily from the surrounding area.
Excavations in 1986 uncovered seven silver sixpence coins from the reign of Queen Elizabeth I at the site. These findings give a rare glimpse into daily life of past residents and objects they left behind.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
