Lisbane Catholic Church- St. John's
on the Strangford coast near Saltwater bridge

This chapel was erected in 1777 by parish priest Daniel O'Doran, on the site of the mass rock from penal times and paid for by general subscription. The ancient chapel of Moyndele is nearby. In 1836 it was described as being 62 feet by 24 feet and capable of holding 400 people. It was an attractive building with a roof of old Tullycavey slates.The parish priest in 1835 was Rev. Bernard Dorrian. It was reduced to the status of mortuary house after the building of the new church in Ballycran in 1876. The front of the graveyard is kept in good order but brambles have been allowed to grow behind the church making access difficult. (2002)

PRONI & NLI have baptisms 1828-1838 & 1852- 1882, marriages 1828-1839 & 1852- 1889; graveyard ; gravestone inscriptions available UHF Vol 13 ; email me for a gravestone look-up

Sketrick Castle

Sketrick Castle is situated on the western extremity of Sketrick Island which is in Strangford Lough and is now joined to the mainland by a causeway. There is a raised footpath from the mainland and the strait of water separating the two is nearly dry at low tide. Mentioned in written sources of 1470 as having been involved in warfare. A great army was lead by the O'Neill into Clannaboy to assist MacQuillan. They took Sketrick Castle and was given to MacQuillan for safe keeping.
It was actively involved in warfare in 16th century.It had 4 storeys with 4 chambers at ground level, the largest with a vault built on wicker centring and 2 brick-lines recesses, probably ovens. The central space may have been a boat bay and the small unlighted room could have been a lock-up or treasury.Bishops land taxed it at £1 in 1744

In 1833 is was described as a plain, stone building about 40 feet high, oblong in form and did not appear to have any flanking towers or outworks attached to it. The entrance faces west, being opposite the ford across the strait. The castle was not habitable then, being unroofed and open from the top to the ground. It stood complete until wrecked by a storm in 1896. The locals say that the Danes (Vikings) built it but it looks more like an Anglo- Norman construction.

The Montgomery Manuscripts states;" Other ancient family of the Savages is that of Archin (Ardquin ) Castle. It is of good account and hath another as they called Sketrick, the oldest of them all..." In the 1901 Census only one family called Montgomery lived here.

The island was bought by the Harrison family and was owned by Richard Harrison Esq. of Holywood House, as a portion of the Ardkeen Estate in 1870. (O'L V1 p 347) . Hugh Montgomery farmed on the island in 1910.

Kirkistown Castle

Kirkistown Castle is near Cloghy. You can see the remains of the 9th century Round Tower on the left. The Tower House and bawn (on the right) were built by Roland Savage in 1622 and occupied untiol 1731 when it was deserted. There are three floors in the tower-house and it was restored in 1800 by Col. Johnston in the Gothic Revival style. In 1836 there had been some attempt and expense made to repair it but it was left with a half-finished roof and broken windows and the weather taking it back to a state of ruin. The cause of this was because the present owner, Master Montgomery, of Grey Abbey, was a minor.

Today it is in private hands and visitors aren't welcome. The buildings are used as farm sheds.