Carrickfergus Castle cannons temporarily removed for repairs
Two of Carrickfergus Castle’s historic cannons have been temporarily removed for conservation and repairs.
It follows an announcement by the Department for Communities in June of a £1.6m investment in essential conservation work to help the medieval landmark “fulfil” its tourism potential.
The main focus of the work will be at the castle vaults, officers’ quarters and sea tower, plus gate and cannon refurbishment.
The funding is also due to cover conservation work at Carrickfergus town walls and Gasworks, which are monuments in state care too.
In a social media post, Love Heritage NI, the official page for the Historic Environment Division within DfC said that cannons have been identified by Royal Armouries as British, six-pounder, cast-iron smooth-bore guns on a wooden garrison carriage, dating from around 1717.
The cannons and their carriages were lifted by crane over the curtain wall of the castle on July 21, and were secured on to HED vehicles for their journey to the Moira depot.
A DfC spokesperson said: “The barrels will be conserved and failing modern trunnions replaced by the department’s Historic Environment Division’s blacksmiths and repainted.
"The carriages (1970s replacements) will be remade to historically appropriate designs for cannon of this type and date. The work will be undertaken by the Historic Environment Division’s Conservation Works Team composed of highly skilled craftspeople, as well as our 11 new heritage skills apprentices.”
The cannons will be returned to the castle when repaired and this is the first phase in a planned programme which will see all of the cannons and carriages conserved over the next few years, Love Heritage NI added.