Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Castle - tower house
Kildare, County Kildare, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Kildare
- County
- Kildare
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Latest-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- SMR number
- KD022-029014-
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
According to Bradley et al. (1986 vol. 3, 206), there is documentary evidence for the presence of fortified townhouses in Kildare in the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, including ‘White's Castle’, mentioned in 1436, when its owner complained it had been burnt twice. Accordingly, he was granted royal permission to take stones from ‘Rowesplace’ and the old walls of ‘Smythesplace’ and to build a good hall with a crenelated parapet for himself. (Tresham 1828, 258, 94). A ‘White Gate’ is thought to have formed part of the Kildare town defences (KD022-029009-), but appears to have been a different structure. No visible surface traces survive.
Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy
Date of upload: 24 January 2012
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 Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.
Tresham, E. 1828 Rotulorum patentium et clausorum cancellariae Hiberniae calendrium Hen II - Hen VII. Dublin.