About

365 YEARS OF HOLDING THE FORT

HILLSBOROUGH FORT

Hillsborough Fort was commisioned on a site of strategic importance, and became a symbol of security and protection in the surrounding area. Its construction marked a pivotal moment in the history of County Down, blending military function with aristocratic tradition.

On 21st December 1660, King Charles II granted a Royal Charter to the Fort at Hillsborough, raising its status to that of a Royal Fort. The Fort, designed to protect the 'chiefest road in the Countic of Downe', was built by the Hill family, and thus His Majesty granted the hereditary title of Constable of Hillsborough Fort to Colonel Arthur Hill. This entile Colonel Hill to pass the title on to his ancestors for ever. It further granted him the pleasure of raising and maintaining a Guard of 20 men to occupy the garrison. These Warders, as they became known, had the task of guarding what was now officially a Royal Fort.

Armed with masket and sword, cach man was bedecked with a splendid navy tunic trimmed in white with dark crimso facings, white buckskin breeches and waistcoat, black gaiters and the distinctive black bi-corn hat embellished with a crimson feather plume. The Bugler wore a scarlet tunic with navy facings and lace in the style of a royal regiment of the period. His role was to sound the duty calls for the Guard as instructed by the Guard Serjeant Major.

THE LAST WARDER, BUT NOT THE LAST OF THE GUARD

The Guard of 20 men continued at full strength into the late 19th century when government payments finally ceased. One by one the old Warders faded away. In 1954, with the death of the last Warder, Jack Green, WW1 veteran, the 7th Marquess of Downshire retained the post of Bugler to keep the custom alive, which has endured to this day and has been held by Bugler Andrew Carlisle since 2006. Now, in the 21st century, the tradition of the Warders at Hillsborough Fort has been reinstated under the guidance of the present 9th Marquess of Downshire.

ROYAL HILLSBOROUGH

On 31st July 2021, six Warders received from Lord Downshire their official Warrants of Appointmer confirming the re-emergence of this unique part of Ulster's heritage. It had been almost a century ane a half since a Constable had last appointed a Warder to Hillsborough Fort. How appropriate that this tradition was restored in the year when the village was awarded Royal status by Elizabeth II.

FROM PROTECTION TO PROMOTION

Having received an invitation to become a Warder from the Constable, a regimental number is allocated and a Warrant issued. Following an investiture by the Constable, the new Warder becomes a lifelong member of the Guard, and names recorded on the list of Warders of the Hillsborough Fort Guard. This list takes its place in the pages of 365-year history. The Investiture today, 31 May 2025, brings the Guard to its full strength of 20 Warders, as per the Royal Charter of 1660.

On the 31st May 2025 was witness a sight that no living person has seen. For the first time in more than 130 years, the full complement of the Hillsborough Fort Guard once more mustered and paraded at the very place where it was raised. While in the past the protection of the Fort and the village was central to the existence of the Guard, today its purpose and duty is to celebrate and share with the public the history and traditions of the village, and pass them on to the next generation.

Our Warders volunteer their time and skills to ensure that the wonderful story of Hillsborough is not only told, but continues to live. The sight of Fort Warders around the village will become as familiar as it was in the past and the Bugler's calls will once again be answered by the Warders of the Hillsborough Fort Guard.