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| Castle Caldwell fish pond in 2025 (Timothy Ferres) |
Sir James Caldwell, 4th Baronet (c1722-84), spent a king’s ransom on his sublime demesne on the shores of Lower Lough Erne in County Fermanagh.
In its time Castle Caldwell was acknowledged to be one of the most beautiful demesnes in Ireland.
When he married Elizabeth Hort, a daughter of the Most Rev Josiah Hort, Archbishop of Tuam, Sir James received a dowry of £10,000; and he spent at least £16,000 (about £2.2 million in today's money) embellishing and improving his demesne.
According to historic maps, Castle Caldwell boasted two walled gardens, the main one being not far to the south-west of the house.
This walled garden had an uncommon feature: four curved alcoves running the length of the south wall.
These features can be seen on a 1780 engraving by Francis Newbery.
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| Castle Caldwell: Walled garden ca 1830 (historic OS map) |
According to historic maps, Castle Caldwell boasted two walled gardens, the main one being not far to the south-west of the house.
It extended to about 1¾ acres in size.
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| Castle Caldwell: engraving by F Newbery in 1780 |
This walled garden had an uncommon feature: four curved alcoves running the length of the south wall.
These alcoves were thought to be for stone fruit, perhaps damsons and plums.
Here there was another feature: a fish pond within the walls, the remains of which are still extant today, near a path.
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These features can be seen on a 1780 engraving by Francis Newbery.
The remaining features at Castle Caldwell are of historic importance and in need of conservation.
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