Something I found on the net, a blog site by Timothy Belmont Lord Belmont In Northern Ireland Blogspot , Good reading
Lord Belmont In Northern Ireland
The Castle Archdale Estate
Castle Archdale, not far from Irvinestown in County Fermanagh, was once one of the largest demesnes in the county. It was one of Fermanagh's Big Five estates in the 19th century, with the Archdales owning 27,410 acres.
All that remains of the manor-house is its site, paved and ballustraded; but the grand court-yard remains in good condition behind it. The manor-house was built by Colonel Mervyn Archdale in 1773, on the shores of Lower Lough Erne to replace a Plantation castle of 1615. It had three storeys over a basement; a six bay entrance front with a two bay breakfront centre; and a tripartite doorway with Ionic pilasters, entablature and pediment, the latter breaking forwards on two Ionic columns to form a porch.
The side elevation was of three bays, the bottom storey having Venetian windows with Gothic astragals in its outer bays. The quoins were rusticated and bold; with a solid roof parapet.
It has been said that the Archdales were popular landowners with their staff, many of whom came from Lisnarick. The grounds and gardens were well tended. There was a tennis court on the front lawn of the manor-house and, sadly, Harry Archdale suffered a fatal heart attack there in 1938. He had no heir, so the Estate passed to Mervyn Archdale, a Canadian cousin.
Like all the big country houses in the county, life often revolved round shooting parties, which were often held on Crevinishaughy and White islands. The Archdales even had a private railway halt which was on the line between Irvinestown and Enniskillen.
Mervyn Archdale continued to live at the old manor-house till about 1942, by which time it had been requisitioned by the Royal Air Force and had become the officers' mess, with the stabling being the administration. He lived in a few rooms at the time, but moved out shortly afterwards. This was possibly the last time an Archdale ever inhabited the mansion again, since the RAF kept it till 1957; it lay neglected and derelict by 1959; and was finally demolished in 1970.
I have some reminiscences of Castle Archdale here, though theArchdale baronets were, I believe, another branch of the family from Riversdale, not Castle Archdale as I stated in the article.
The demesne lies on the eastern shores of Lower Lough Erne. There are islands incorporated into the Estate, which was established in the 17th century. A substantial part of the early T-plan house and bawn, built for John Archdale in 1615 and known as Old Castle Archdale, survives, surrounded at the present time by thick forest plantation. It is approached at the end of a long straight avenue of late 17th century or early 18th century date. The manor-house was placed in an elevated position. Excellent views could be enjoyed from this house across 18th century parkland, which was, quoting from an early 20th century visitor, ‘probably unsurpassed in Ireland’. Beyond the lawns, mature hardwood woodland formed a foreground to a vista of the lough, with distant mountains behind.
As I stated earlier, the house became derelict in 1959; ruinous, and was eventually demolished in 1970, but the adjacent stable block remains intact. The approach to the Park is via an avenue of venerable oaks. There are other fine mature broad-leaved trees, though forest planting accounts for a large area of tree cover. The ornamental garden was known as a ‘good garden’ until the 1940s. A yew walk leads from the house to a rockery and lawns. The walled garden, still in use during the war, is no longer planted up with flowers, fruit and vegetables, though it is partially ornamented with shrubs in grass. A bamboo walk was a feature that survives. There is a dug-out bath house. A 19th century tower is listed.
The North Gate Lodge, built by Lieut-Col William Archdale not long after he succeeded to the demesne in 1839, is unfortunately now demolished, but the South Lodge survives; this was built for Captain Mervyn Edward Archdale in the Tudor-Picturesque style around 1870; it is a replacement for an earlier pre-1834 lodge further down the same avenue. During the 1939-45 war the demesne was a major base for Short Sunderland and Catalina Flying boats in the Battle of the Atlantic. The property is now a‘Country Park’ owned and managed by the Environment and Heritage Service of Northern Ireland and contains a marina, caravan camp site, a new arboretum and ‘butterfly garden’, while the yard has been refurbished as a Visitor Centre.
All that remains of the manor-house is its site, paved and ballustraded; but the grand court-yard remains in good condition behind it. The manor-house was built by Colonel Mervyn Archdale in 1773, on the shores of Lower Lough Erne to replace a Plantation castle of 1615. It had three storeys over a basement; a six bay entrance front with a two bay breakfront centre; and a tripartite doorway with Ionic pilasters, entablature and pediment, the latter breaking forwards on two Ionic columns to form a porch.
The side elevation was of three bays, the bottom storey having Venetian windows with Gothic astragals in its outer bays. The quoins were rusticated and bold; with a solid roof parapet.
It has been said that the Archdales were popular landowners with their staff, many of whom came from Lisnarick. The grounds and gardens were well tended. There was a tennis court on the front lawn of the manor-house and, sadly, Harry Archdale suffered a fatal heart attack there in 1938. He had no heir, so the Estate passed to Mervyn Archdale, a Canadian cousin.
Like all the big country houses in the county, life often revolved round shooting parties, which were often held on Crevinishaughy and White islands. The Archdales even had a private railway halt which was on the line between Irvinestown and Enniskillen.
Mervyn Archdale continued to live at the old manor-house till about 1942, by which time it had been requisitioned by the Royal Air Force and had become the officers' mess, with the stabling being the administration. He lived in a few rooms at the time, but moved out shortly afterwards. This was possibly the last time an Archdale ever inhabited the mansion again, since the RAF kept it till 1957; it lay neglected and derelict by 1959; and was finally demolished in 1970.
I have some reminiscences of Castle Archdale here, though theArchdale baronets were, I believe, another branch of the family from Riversdale, not Castle Archdale as I stated in the article.
The demesne lies on the eastern shores of Lower Lough Erne. There are islands incorporated into the Estate, which was established in the 17th century. A substantial part of the early T-plan house and bawn, built for John Archdale in 1615 and known as Old Castle Archdale, survives, surrounded at the present time by thick forest plantation. It is approached at the end of a long straight avenue of late 17th century or early 18th century date. The manor-house was placed in an elevated position. Excellent views could be enjoyed from this house across 18th century parkland, which was, quoting from an early 20th century visitor, ‘probably unsurpassed in Ireland’. Beyond the lawns, mature hardwood woodland formed a foreground to a vista of the lough, with distant mountains behind.
As I stated earlier, the house became derelict in 1959; ruinous, and was eventually demolished in 1970, but the adjacent stable block remains intact. The approach to the Park is via an avenue of venerable oaks. There are other fine mature broad-leaved trees, though forest planting accounts for a large area of tree cover. The ornamental garden was known as a ‘good garden’ until the 1940s. A yew walk leads from the house to a rockery and lawns. The walled garden, still in use during the war, is no longer planted up with flowers, fruit and vegetables, though it is partially ornamented with shrubs in grass. A bamboo walk was a feature that survives. There is a dug-out bath house. A 19th century tower is listed.
The North Gate Lodge, built by Lieut-Col William Archdale not long after he succeeded to the demesne in 1839, is unfortunately now demolished, but the South Lodge survives; this was built for Captain Mervyn Edward Archdale in the Tudor-Picturesque style around 1870; it is a replacement for an earlier pre-1834 lodge further down the same avenue. During the 1939-45 war the demesne was a major base for Short Sunderland and Catalina Flying boats in the Battle of the Atlantic. The property is now a‘Country Park’ owned and managed by the Environment and Heritage Service of Northern Ireland and contains a marina, caravan camp site, a new arboretum and ‘butterfly garden’, while the yard has been refurbished as a Visitor Centre.
Posted by Timothy Belmont at 09:00 
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