While the current mansion dominates the landscape, archaeological records suggest that beneath the surface, foundations of this predecessor structure have survived the centuries. The historian Tempest documented these remains in 1952, noting their presence in his comprehensive survey of the area, though today’s visitors would be hard pressed to spot any visible traces of the original fortification.

The site’s historical significance was considered important enough to merit inclusion on the 1907 Ordnance Survey six-inch map, where it was carefully marked for posterity. This cartographic record, along with an anonymous account from 1908, provides crucial evidence of the castle’s existence even as its physical presence has faded from view. The mapping of such sites was common practice during this period, when surveyors meticulously documented Ireland’s archaeological landscape, capturing details of structures that might otherwise have been lost to memory.

What makes this site particularly intriguing is its layered history; a mansion built upon the bones of an earlier castle, creating a palimpsest of occupation spanning several centuries. The Archaeological Inventory and Survey of County Louth, compiled in 1986 and 1991 respectively, have both documented this site, though recent research continues to refine our understanding of what once stood here. For those interested in Ireland’s castle heritage, Castle Bellingham offers a compelling example of how medieval fortifications often became foundations, both literally and figuratively, for the grand houses that followed.