Castle Gardens is the most historic open space in Lisburn. It is the site of Lisburn castle, a 17th Century fortified manor house first built in the 1620's. The house was burnt down in the fire of 1707 and not rebuilt, but the fortified walls and garden terraces remain - although now in ruinous and overgrown condition.

The part of the gardens presently in public use dates from late Victorian times and contains several important scheduled historic monuments, including the 1677 red sandstone gateway, the Wallace drinking fountain and the memorial erected in 1891 to commemorate Lisburn's landlord and great benefactor, Sir Richard Wallace (1818 - 1890). The Gardens also provide a splendid setting for the town's memorial to the First and Second World Wars.

The restoration of Castle Gardens through extensive archaeological and engineering work is a key part of the Council's Development Strategy for Lisburn's Historic Quarter. An opportunity now exists through Heritage Lottery Funding, to make this a reality.