Days Out NI
Castle & ruin Newtownstewart

Newtownstewart Castle

A Plantation castle with triple crow-stepped gables, free to see from the street in the heart of Tyrone.

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Check hoursVisible from the street at any time. Inte…
FreeNo ticket needed
NewtownstewartCastle & ruin
Get directionsOfficial website
20 minutesHow long
FreeEntry
Some accessAccess
NearbyParking
On leadsDogs

Newtownstewart Castle — A Plantation castle with triple crow-stepped gables, free to see from the street in the heart of Tyrone.

  • Getting in: Free to view from Townhall Street. Inside the ruin is by arrangement only; phone 028 9082 3207 or email [email protected] first. Charges may apply.
  • Opening: Visible from the street at any time. Interior access by appointment only; check before you go.
  • Inside: Only by prior arrangement with the Department for Communities. From the street you see the gables and walls but do not enter the wallstead.
  • Dogs: On a lead in the town; no published policy for inside the monument.
  • Parking: On-street parking in the town centre nearby.
  • Food: Cafes, shops and pubs in Newtownstewart town centre, a short walk away.
Plan your visit

What survives, and what to look for

The castle was four storeys when new but only its north and west walls and a little of the south remain. The eye goes straight to the triple gables facing the street, with the tall chimney-stack over the smaller centre gable. Look closely and you can read the building's story in the stone: mullioned windows, original fireplaces, and a circular stair tower. The mix of Scottish stepped gables and an English-style brick chimney tells you exactly who built it and where they came from.

Free to view Built 1615 Triple crow-stepped gables Star-shaped brick chimney On the Tyrone heritage trail Pairs with Harry Avery's Castle
Good to know before you go:

State care monuments across Northern Ireland host occasional guided tours, heritage open days and living-history events through the year. Dates change each season, so check what is on before you travel.

Before you set off

What to bring

  • 👟Sturdy shoesRuins mean uneven ground, worn steps and the odd spiral stair.
  • 🧥A coatMost of it is open to the sky, so dress for the day and enjoy the fresh air.
  • 📷A cameraThe old stonework and the views are the whole point — you will want photos.
  • 💧Water and a snackFew ruins have a café right on site, so bring a little something.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Getting in
Free to view from Townhall Street. Inside the ruin is by arrangement only; phone 028 9082 3207 or email [email protected] first. Charges may apply.
Opening
Visible from the street at any time. Interior access by appointment only; check before you go.
Can you go inside
Only by prior arrangement with the Department for Communities. From the street you see the gables and walls but do not enter the wallstead.
Food
Cafes, shops and pubs in Newtownstewart town centre, a short walk away.
Dogs
On a lead in the town; no published policy for inside the monument.
Parking
On-street parking in the town centre nearby.
Accessibility
Town-centre roadside location; the ruin sits at the top of a slope down to the River Strule, so ground is uneven. Best appreciated from the street.
How long to allow
10 to 20 minutes for a roadside stop.
Address
Townhall Street, Newtownstewart, BT78 4AX
Questions

Before you go

Is it free to visit?
Free to view from Townhall Street. Inside the ruin is by arrangement only; phone 028 9082 3207 or email [email protected] first. Charges may apply.
Can you go inside?
Only by prior arrangement with the Department for Communities. From the street you see the gables and walls but do not enter the wallstead.
When is it open?
Visible from the street at any time. Interior access by appointment only; check before you go.
Can I bring the dog?
On a lead in the town; no published policy for inside the monument.
Where do I park?
On-street parking in the town centre nearby.
Getting there

Newtownstewart Castle is at Townhall Street, Newtownstewart, BT78 4AX. On-street parking in the town centre nearby. Tap below for directions.

Directions on Google MapsOfficial website See it on our map
Nearby

Make more of the day

More days out around NewtownstewartSee what else is close by More castles & ruins across NITowers, keeps and abbeys to explore
The story

The story of Newtownstewart Castle

The castle was built around 1615 by Sir Robert Newcomen during the Plantation of Ulster. A 1622 survey described it as built of lime and stone, four storeys high and encircled by a bawn with two flankers, an English manor house defended for unsettled times.

In 1629 Sir William Stewart married Newcomen's second daughter and acquired the castle. He renamed the castle and the town Newtownstewart after his own birthplace, which is how the town got its name.

The castle was badly damaged in the 1641 Insurrection when it was taken by Sir Phelim O'Neill. Worse came in 1689 when, returning from the Siege of Derry, King James ordered the castle and town burned so they could not be used by the Williamite army. It was never restored.

What you see today is the surviving wallstead with its three crow-stepped gables. Archaeological excavation in the late 1990s uncovered more of the plan and, unexpectedly, a Bronze Age cist grave with cremation burials and pottery south-west of the castle, proof that people lived on this spot long before the Plantation.