Charleville Forest Castle sits proudly in an historic oak forest in Tullamore, County Offaly. It’s a perfect example of Gothic Revival architecture and it is truly beautiful – but it is also known for being haunted!

For years, the castle stood empty until the current owners took over in 1973. Since then, they have been working hard to restore it to its former glory.

The restoration work is still in progress, and now the property is looked after by The Charleville Castle Heritage Trust.

You can actually visit the castle and take tours, but since it’s run by volunteers, it’s best to call or email ahead to book a tour. You can find all the informations you need on the castle’s website.

The Architect of Charleville Forest Castle

Charleville Forest Castle is a gorgeous example of Gothic Revival architecture. It was designed by the architect Francis Johnston back in the late 1700s. It was supposed to take 14 years to build, and the castle was finally completed in 1812.

Francis Johnston was a famous architect known for his work in both neo-classical and neo-gothic styles. You can find more of his amazing buildings all over the Ireland .

One of his most elegant designs is the Chapel Royal in Dublin Castle, which showcases Gothic Revival architecture at its finest. Charleville Castle’s design is inspired by medieval Gothic buildings and is considered one of the best examples of this style in Ireland.

The Original Owners

Charleville Forest Castle was made for the Earl of Charleville, Charles William Bury. He got his title and a bunch of land when he was just six months old because his dad passed away. The land included a big oak forest and the town of Tullamore. When Charles graduated from Trinity College Dublin at 21, he went back to Tullamore and worked on fixing up the town.

It had been partly wrecked by a fire caused by a hot-air balloon accident – pretty crazy, right?

Charles and his wife Catherine Maria Bury, who was the 1st countess of Charleville, had Charleville Forest Castle built as their family home. Their Charleville Estate grew to about 24,000 acres, and Tullamore got much bigger too, with more people and more money.

The King Oak Tree

At the main entrance of Charleville Forest Castle Estate, there’s this huge oak tree called the King Oak. It’s part of a big ancient oak forest all around the castle.

Some say the King Tree is 900 years old, but you can’t always trust what you find online. The Irish Wildlife Trust says it’s one of the oldest trees in the country, and they think it’s between 400 to 800 years old.

People have thought for a long time that the King Oak is kind of connected to the Bury family spiritually. They believed if a branch fell off, it meant someone in the family would pass away.

In a storm back in 1963, lightning almost split the tree in two. And then, a few weeks later, the owner of the estate, Colonel Charles Howard-Bury, passed away. He was 82 and died at Belvedere House in Co Westmeath, which he got from his dad. He also inherited Charleville Forest Castle from his mom.

In 2013, the King Oak Tree got third place in the European Tree of the Year contest. It was the Irish entry, but a tree in Eger, Hungary, called ‘The Plane Tree in Eger,’ won first place.

The Interior Design

Inside Charleville Forest Castle is absolutely stunning. When you step into the entrance hall, you’ll see this amazing staircase. It’s got a fancy chandelier hanging from a gorgeous ceiling above.

The whole place is decorated with pointed arches and really fancy plaster ceilings. And check this out – the dining room got a makeover in the late 1860s by a guy named William Morris, who designed textiles. You can still see his stenciled ceiling in there today.

The Scarry story 

Charleville Forest Castle has been a popular spot for ghost fanatics and experts. It’s an old castle with a very interesting history. A rumor has it that the spirit of a young girl named Harriet still roams the halls. Harriet was the daughter of the 3rd Earl of Charleville, and her story is both tragic and fascinating.

Back in 1861, little Harriet met a grim fate. She was being a bit rough, slipping down a banister, when she accidentally fell and broke her neck. Since then, visitors to the castle have reported strange things happening. Some say they’v felt a sudden chill near the staircase, while others claim to have come across a young girl dressed in blue and white. Sometimes, she even has a young boy with her, around the same age.

That’s not all! you will be astonished People have also heard children singing and laughing within the castle walls. And it’s not just visitors who’ve experienced these scary spooky happenings – even the volunteers who works there and paranormal investigators have their own stories to tell.

And if that’s not enough to give you a goosebumps feeling, there have been sightings of spectral monks wandering around the castle. Strange lights on the ceilings, ghostly footsteps, disembodied voices, and an eerie mist that appears from time to time – it’s all part of the castle’s haunted reputation. And let’s not forget the dread-inducing spirit said to haunt the dungeon… 

So, if you ever find yourself near Charleville Forest Castle, keep your eyes constantly open – you might just encounter something otherworldly! 

The Dungeon

Charleville Forest Castle isn’t your typical spooky dungeon. Nope, it wasn’t used to lock people up – no evidence of prisoners here! Instead, it’s more like a basement. But wait, there is more to this story.

Legend has it that the 1st Earl of Charleville dabbled in some dark stuff – devil worship, to be precise. And guess what? Down in the dungeon, there’s a mysterious altar. Some say it was hidden behind a concrete wall and rediscovered during renovations. Spooky, right?

But that’s not all. Brace yourself: terrifying spirits might be lurking down there. Dungeon or not, people claim they’ve come face-to-face with something otherworldly. 

Now, let’s switch gears. Charleville Forest Castle isn’t just about ghosts and ghouls. It’s also a stunning example of Gothic Revival architecture. Imagine towering spires, intricate details, and centuries-old stone. But here’s the twist: restoring this ancient beauty takes dedication, hard work, and a whole lot of passion. 

So, next time you’re near Charleville Forest Castle, keep an eye out for more than just architecture – you might just feel the shivers of history and the whispers of the past!