Virtual Tour
Hillsborough Castle
Hillsborough Castle is a late 18th Century mansion house situated in the heart of Hillsborough village. The Castle and village are named after the Hill family, originally from England, who arrived in Ireland in the late 16th Century.
Wills Hill, the first Marquis of Downshire, was the driving force behind the house being built, and Hillsborough Castle remained the seat of the Marquis of Downshire until 1922 when the sixth Marquis sold the estate to the British Government.
Hillsborough Castle then became the official residence of the Governor of Northern Ireland. The first governor, His Grace The Duke of Abercorn KGKP, moved in to Hillsborough Castle in 1925 after refurbishment work. There followed four other governors until 1972.
Since 1972 the Castle’s primary role has been as a residence for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. It is also used as a venue for government hospitality and to accommodate significant guests to Northern Ireland.
In the last 20 years Hillsborough Castle has become a key venue for political events in Northern Ireland, including meetings between the British and Irish governments and the local political parties as part of the current peace process.
The Castle has also played a part on the world’s political stage as the venue for talks between President George W Bush and Tony Blair during the Iraq War.
Members of the Royal family are regular visitors to Hillsborough Castle, the highlights being the visits of Her Majesty the Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh on the occasion of both the Silver and Golden Jubilee celebrations.
Hillsborough Castle is open to the public for a limited time each year and has become a popular tourist attraction, with both guided tours of the house, and walks in the gardens, proving popular with visitors.
