This structure, recorded on the Down Survey maps of 1655-6, likely represents a fascinating example of architectural evolution, where a medieval castle tower was incorporated into a more modern 17th-century residence. The property belonged to John Nugent, identified in contemporary records as an ‘Irish Papist’, suggesting the family maintained their Catholic faith during a period of significant religious upheaval in Ireland.

The Down Survey terrier provides intriguing details about the site, noting a ‘Castle at Drumyn in reasonable repaire with some Cabbins’, indicating that the medieval fortification remained in decent condition even as it was adapted for more comfortable living. This practice of updating ancient defensive structures for domestic use was common amongst the Irish gentry of the period, who sought to balance traditional power symbols with contemporary residential needs. The house appears on later Ordnance Survey Fair Plans as ‘Drumming old’, depicted as an unroofed rectangular structure aligned northwest to southeast, suggesting it had fallen into disrepair by the 19th century.

Today, no visible trace remains of either the castle or the house that once stood at Druming. The site has been completely levelled, leaving only historical maps and documents to tell the story of this once-significant structure. The transformation from medieval stronghold to comfortable country house, and eventual disappearance, reflects the broader narrative of Ireland’s architectural heritage; countless similar buildings that bridged the medieval and early modern periods have vanished from the landscape, surviving only in the careful documentation of historical surveys.