Whilst no traces of this original structure remain today, historical records describe it as a “timber house” that likely stood where Ballyhaise House now sits. The current house, which dates partly from 1705, occupies an enviable position on a gentle slope overlooking the Annalee River; a strategic location that would have offered clear views of the ford below, where a bridge was later constructed in the early 18th century.

The choice of this particular spot was no accident. The commanding view of the river crossing would have been invaluable for monitoring movement and trade along this important waterway. The ford itself was significant enough to warrant the construction of a proper bridge within a century of Taylor’s castle being built, suggesting this was already a well established crossing point when the original timber structure went up.

Today, visitors to Ballyhaise House in Drumcrow can still appreciate why this location was chosen over four centuries ago. Though Taylor’s original timber castle has long since vanished, the site continues to tell the story of early 17th century plantation architecture in Ulster, when English and Scottish settlers were establishing themselves across the northern counties of Ireland. The evolution from timber fort to the more permanent stone house we see remnants of today reflects the broader transformation of the Irish landscape during this turbulent period.