Can Richhill Castle please have its gates back?

Plus, Mo Robinson's lorry to be sold off for parts with proceeds going towards 39 victims’ families

Jul 18, 2023

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When you think of castles you may imagine grand structures, forts, turrets and of course the obligatory ornate gates. At a time, Richhill Castle was no different. Little did anyone know that its gates were destined for a grand adventure of their own!

But first, a little history…

Richhill Castle was built between 1664 and 1690 by Major Edward Richardson on the site of an earlier dwelling erected by Francis Sacheverall - a Planter from Rossbye -Leicestershire, in 1611.

However, the unique U-shaped, two-storey building is, today, probably better described as a country manor house than a castle.

It would take another 55 years before the castle would be adorned by a set of magnificent 18 - 20ft gates.

These intricate ironworks were crafted by skilled artisans of the era, Thornberry Brothers of Armagh in 1745 and topped with the Richardson coat-of-arms. But if you have been to the castle, in let’s say the past 85 years, you’ll notice something missing - the gates!

Richhill Castle and village Main Street. Photo Credit: Airwolf Visual

So where did they go? Speculation has it that the gates were removed during the Second World War to prevent the metal being melted down to make armaments but one thing is certain, they now adorn the entrance to Hillsborough Castle.

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Over the years there have been many attempts from members of the public, and indeed the castle’s former owner, Gordon Lyttle, to have the gates reinstated – to no avail.

To the present day there is still a feeling in the village that the gates should be handed back - with hundreds having previously backed an online campaign to see the gates returned. Again, Buckingham Palace remained steadfast in their resolve to retain them.

Sadly, Gordon passed away in 2009 without ever seeing a glimmer of hope that they would some day return.

Hillsborough Castle, which is now owned and operated by Historical Royal Palaces, are now the guardians of these historic gates and it would seem that there is no intent to return them. Indeed, in 2013 the Northern Ireland office said they are "now an established feature in Hillsborough".

So what now for the Grade A listed building? Today, the building is surrounded by a different style of ironwork - scaffolding - with conservation works ongoing.

A survey of the roof by Philip Robinson - formerly Head of Buildings at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum in the early 1990s - described the roof as follows:

‘The roof timbers on Richhill Castle (c.1670) consist of an oak, butt-purlin system characteristic of other late 17th century Ulster houses with ‘English’ or ‘Plantation’ influence in their roof construction’.

The historic roof of Richhill Castle during conservation works. Photo used with permission of BMA Portfolio

Just as with Richhill Castle, the rest of the village over the past number of years has undergone much needed regeneration work to enhance the streetscape and preserve the village for future generations.

Works included reinstating sash windows and cast-iron guttering, re-rendering and re-painting facades in heritage colours and making signage more in-keeping with the conservation area.

Of course, with all these old buildings there is always speculation, none more so than that of the famous Tandragee Castle, with some reporting that the castle is in a dilapidated state of repair; with holes in the roof exposing the interior to the elements. Sad really when you think about it - after all, one of our national treasures comes from within the same grounds - should more be done to preserve it?