Castle Upton
Coordinates: 54°42′14″N 6°05′28″W / 54.704°N 6.091°W
Castle Upton is a castle situated in the village of Templepatrick, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. One side of the main street in the village of Templepatrick consists of the demesne wall of Castle Upton. A fortified gateway in the wall at the centre of the village leads up to the castle. The core of the main house is a tower house with walls up to five feet thick, created in 1611 by Sir Robert Norton and originally known as Castle Norton. It was purchased in 1625 by Captain Henry Upton, who became Member of Parliament for Carrickfergus in 1634 and renamed the building. The stable block is a copy of Roman style fortifications. The family mausoleum is in the care of the National Trust and is open to visitors. Many Templetown viscounts and barons are buried there. The mausoleum was built in the form of a triumphal arch by Robert Adam, who also extended the house in 1783. The house is currently inhabited by the Kinahan family, being purchased by [1] [2]
One of the notable achievements of this castle is the reconstruction of the wrecked Adam wing. This wing, now contains a ballroom in which an Italian, marble chimney has been added. The owners of this castle obtained this chimney from the Downhill Castle in the County Londonderry.
Owner and Location
Danny Kinahan MLA and his wife are the current owner of Castle Upton, after inheriting it from one of her family members.
Although this Castle has a rural setting, it is only a few minutes off the M2 motorway. This castle is about 25 minutes from Belfast; two hotels are about a two-minute drive from the castle. These hotels are The Hilton and Templeton Hotels in addition to the Dunadry and Dunsilly, which is slightly further away. One can reach Castle Upton at +44 7881 551807 to find out more information on planning events or a wedding at this beautiful venue. Many pictures can be found on their website and their Facebook page.
Events
This Castle is known for being a major wedding destination in Northern Ireland. It is licensed for religious in addition to civil marriages and can accommodate up to 100 guests. Castle Upton has many beautifully maintained gardens, which are perfect for wedding photographs or events that require the taking of pictures.
Castle Upton in the past has held many art galleries, though many people decide to visit this castle specifically for the grounds it is on. In one art gallery, there was a great variation of art in many styles. National and international artists were presented, in addition to painting, sculptures and 3D pieces. Artists included in one art exhibition were: Barbara Allen, Heidi Wickman, Deadre McKibbin and Kevin McAleenan. There was everything from watercolour art, to abstract art to paintings of cows and their realism.
When people decide to visit Castle Upton, either because there is a wedding or an art exhibition, many find they have a very enjoyable time. The environment created has a good mix of professional and relaxed according to some, which makes this a perfect destination for not only weddings, but also birthdays, work parties and anniversaries.
Real Estate
Currently,[3] portion of this castle is for sale. When advertised, this castle is priced at £497,500 GBP and if one wants to view it, they would need to set up an appoint with the real estate agent. This house has two electric garage doors and 2 electric gates to enter the property. It faces the north garden, and has much of its 18th century character. The house has five bedrooms, four bathrooms, a dining room, a sitting room, kitchen and an octagonal drawing room. The reception has beautiful Limestone flooring and a cornice ceiling. There is also a cloakroom, which has a traditional style with a high flush WC and a Pedestal hand-washing basin. The real estate office chosen to help sell this portion of the castle is Grey Abbey Estate Office, which can be found also in Northern Ireland. Someone can reach the realtor by phone or email and find more information on the website.
Works Cited
- September 2013 Main Castle Upton Website Retrieved April 2, 2014.
- 2013. Montgomery, William. Adam Yard Property Retrieved April 2, 2014.
- January, 2014. Castle Upton Weddings. Facebook page for Castle Upton Retrieved April 2, 2014.
- 2014. Anna Kinahan LinkedIn Profile. LinkedIn account for the owner of Castle Upton Retrieved April 2, 2014.