Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Castle - tower house
Leixlip, County Kildare, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Leixlip
- County
- Kildare
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Indicated
- Latest-edition OS map
- Black Castle
- Coordinates
- 53.36412, -6.48460
- SMR number
- KD011-004005-
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
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1799 "Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
Located at the E-end of the town. According to Bradley et al. (1986 vol. 3, 307-8), the earliest evidence for this building is in 1562 when it was granted to William Vernon. In 1570 it was granted to Nicholas White, and in 1654, the Civil Survey notes that 'Black Castle' was on the lands of the earl of Kildare. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was described as, 'a residence so modernised as to be indistinguishable except to one well acquainted with the locality'. The present structure is inhabited. It is a tall, narrow, four-storied, rectangular building (int. dims. L 7.5m E-W; Wth 6.5m N-S; wall T c. 0.65m), with a possible cellar, said by the present owner to be closed-up. There is a modern, single-storied extension to the S.
Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy
Date of upload: 10 June 2011
References
Bradley, J., Halpin, A., and King, H.A. 1986 Urban Archaeological Survey - County Kildare (4 vols.). Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.
Nearby in the register
- House - 17th centuryunder 1 mi
- Historic townunder 1 mi
- Habitation siteunder 1 mi
- Icehouseunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.