Historical maps from the Down Survey of 1655-6 reveal what once stood here: a formidable crenelated castle surrounded by a substantial bawn, complete with defensive angle towers and a central gatehouse. These detailed parish and barony maps of Freshford and Crannagh show the castle flanked by lower buildings, all enclosed within protective walls; a typical arrangement for a fortified residence of the period. The property was then in the hands of Robert Shee, recorded as an Irish Catholic landowner in 1640.

The castle’s origins stretch back to 1500, when Bishop Oliver Cantwell constructed it adjacent to the Episcopal Palace at Uppercourt. For nearly three centuries, this square tower house stood as a symbol of ecclesiastical power and local authority in the region. However, its fate was sealed in the late 18th or early 19th century when Sir William Evans Morres acquired the estate and embarked on an ambitious building project. Rather than preserve the medieval structure, Morres demolished the castle entirely, recycling its stones to construct the Georgian mansion that became the present Uppercourt House.

Today, no trace of Bishop Cantwell’s castle remains visible above ground. The old fortress, which once stood behind what are now the stables of Uppercourt House, has been completely erased from the landscape. Its stones, which once formed defensive walls and towers designed to withstand siege and assault, were repurposed into the elegant facades and rooms of a country house, transforming a symbol of medieval power into building material for Georgian grandeur. This transformation from fortress to mansion reflects the broader changes in Irish society, where the need for defensive structures gave way to displays of wealth and taste in more peaceful times.