[5] The original bawn was square-shaped, 100 square feet (9.29 m2) in area,[1] with two large towers diagonally opposite one another with two-story blocks extended from each.

The plantation consisted of six official counties—Donegal, Londonderry, Tyrone, Fermanagh, Cavan and Armagh—and the two unplanted counties of Antrim and Down.

[11] County Londonderry was chartered by The Honourable The Irish Society, a consortium of London livery companies.

[1][9] The original bawn was destroyed during the 1641 Irish Rebellion,[21] before being rebuilt three years later by Sir John Clotworthy.

[22] While Magherafelt was under attack during the rebellion by Cormac O'Hagan, leader of defence Robert Waringe requested arms and ammunition from Conway, who declined.

[24] Henry Conway, along with his family, fled Bellaghy after the town's destruction after arranging with rebel Sir Féilim Ruadh Ó Néill his safe escape.

Police searched Kelly's home, found the stolen items, and returned them intact to the centre.

Brannon, who did further work at the site the following year, in-collaboration with the DENI Historic Monuments and Buildings Branch.

In his reports, he notes the discovery of stone footings which he concludes belonged to a two-room structure that was razed to the ground during the 17th century, with further damage caused by 18-19th gardening at the site.

[31] A portion of the bawn wall, near the south-west tower, was also exposed during the excavation, however he concludes in his 1990 report that it was likely a "secondary feature, built no later than 1760.

[44] Only "Trench Two" uncovered something of archaeological interest: a sub-surface section of wall belonging to the north-western turret depicted in Raven's 1622 map of Bellaghy and the bawn.