Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Bastioned fort
Castletownsend, County Cork, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Castletownsend
- County
- Cork
- Country
- Ireland
- Latest-edition OS map
- Fort (in Ruins) (1902)
- Coordinates
- 51.53058, -9.17039
- SMR number
- CO142-080----
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
4 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1841 map "Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1841 · Ireland. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1866 · Ireland. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1868 · 4. Ireland. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1882 · Ireland (southern half). (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
On top of a steep incline on S shore of Castle Haven bay; known as 'Bryan's Fort'. Built as fortified dwelling by Colonel Richard Townsend c. 1650 (Kerrigan 1980, 12). Remains of square enclosure (int. L 8m) with bastion-shaped projections at each corner; NW and ES bastions partially collapsed; quite overgrown. Poorly preserved gable on E wall, with doorway and fireplace at 1st floor level; no return gable on W wall and unlikeley if entire structure roofed. Ground floor linteled door in W wall; just inside is flight of stone steps rising to SW corner, giving access to wall walk (Wth 0.9m) along S wall- most of parapet fallen; doors from wall walk to SE and SW bastions. All bastions of two floors except SE. Numerous gun loops in all towers at 1st floor level; SE and SW bastions, which overlook the bay, each have a pair of large opes, for cannon. The fort was subject to a number of attacks in 1690 (Townsend 1937, 35-9)
The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 1: West Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1992). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.
Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009
References
Townsend, B.L. 1937 History of “Bryan's Fort”, Castletownsend. Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society 42, 35-9.
Nearby in the register
- Designed landscape - belvedereunder 1 mi
- Country houseunder 1 mi
- Churchunder 1 mi
- Graveyardunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.