Killymoon Castle, County Tyrone
The picturesque Killymoon Castle is located c.1 mile south-east of Cookstown County Tyrone, on a incline overlooking the Ballinderry river.
The original castle, built in 1671 by James Stewart, was destroyed by fire in 1801. Stewart's ancestors had come from Scotland during the plantation to settle in Cookstown, and in 1666 James bought the land lease for the castle site from Alan Cooke - founder of Cookstown
When in 1802 Colonel William Stewart decided to rebuild the castle, he employed one of London's greatest architects John Nash, to design his castle - Nash later became the personal architect to the Prince Regent. While Killymoon Castle was Nash's first Irish project, much of London's finest architecture can be ascribed to him, including most of the route from Piccadilly Circus up Regent Street to Regent's Park.
The second Killymoon Castle was built on a much grander scale than the original, illustrating the position of Colonel Stewart among the Irish aristocracy. Thus, by its completion in 1803, the castle is reputed to have cost �80 000.
