Gatehouse

The National Monuments Service's description

It may be one of two castles (see KD019-034---- also) in the possession of Roland FitzEustace in 1486 (Tickell 1960, 368). On level pasture c. 35m W of 'Jigginstown Castle' (KD019-033001-), a very substantial 17th century building, and c. 90m NNE of 'Castle Rag' (KD019-034----), a small tower house. A now blocked-up and partially ivy-clad, plain, rubble-built arch (dims. Wth 4.55m E-W; H 3.5m) springs from a solid rectangular column (dims. L 2.1m N-S; Wth 1.3m) on the W and from a small, rectangular, three-storied, tower with a substantial base batter (H2.85m) on the E, which projects N (L 1.8m) from the face of the archway (dims. L 3.9m N-S; Wth 2.6m). The tower is entered through a narrow (Wth 0.7m) square-headed doorway at the S end of its W wall, just inside the arch. Immediately inside on the left (N), a short, narrow passageway leads N to a small embrasure (dims. L 1.15m E-W; Wth 0.9m) containing a now blocked loop, looking E. The embrasure is floored with large flags one of which at W is broken and under which a narrow (Wth 0.8m), partially rubble-filled, sub-floor passage running E and then turning to run S can be seen. A spiral stairs, lit by a double-splayed loop looking S, climbs anti-clockwise to first-floor level where a partially robbed doorway leads W to a wall-walk above the archway. The stairs rises towards a second-floor, but the steps are in an unstable condition. Externally, there is a small garderobe ope (dims. Wth 0.3m; H 0.4m) just above ground level (H 1m) near the N end of the E wall. The remains of a bawn wall runs S from the SW angle of the tower (dims. traceable L c. 6.1m; H 2.9m; T 0.8m) and contains a loop.

Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy

Date of upload: 10 June 2011

This monument is subject to a preservation order made under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 (PO no. 3/2000).