Bangor Castle is a large county house in the Jacobean style, set within extensive grounds adjacent to the site of the medieval Bangor Abbey. It has a date stone of 1852 and was purchased by the district council in 1941 who demolished the surrounding estate (demesne) wall and opened the grounds to the public. In 1952, 100 years after its original construction, it became the town hall of Bangor. It is quite a composition. On this west elevation a clock tower surmounts what appears to be a remodelled tower house and beside this the entrance door projects surrounded by elaborate stonework. Behind this, three window bays surmounted by pointy dormer and then two wide bays with gables, one of which has a projecting rectangular window over two floors. The other elevations overlooking the road from the town below are more formal and grand, but this one appears to be trying suggest building of great age and development, something like the truly Jacobean extension to the medieval Donegal Castle (www.marksoftime.com/blog/258) inside are some finely decorated rooms and stained glass. It is worth a visit.
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