Gatehouse

The National Monuments Service's description

Described in the Urban Survey (Bradley et. al. 1986, 273-4) as a ‘block approximately 12m by 7, with four floors but perhaps having only three originally. This was entered through a segmentally –arched opening, 4.5m high, with a portcullis groove immediately inside. This opened into a passage, 2m wide, leading to a pointed doorway. On the west was an opening leading to a spiral stair. The E side of the gatehouse was altered considerably. At first floor level the staircase occupied the W part of the block, having a splayed cruciform gun-loop in the N wall. E of this was a large chamber with two garderobes in the N wall. The E wall may not have been original, and had a large splayed rectangular window. In the NE angle was a rectangular recess while in the S wall a splayed doorway led to the central range. At second floor level there was a splayed loop facing NW and a parallel sided door in the S wall, while the main chamber to the E had a rectangular recess in the N wall and a parallel-sided window in the E wall. An external string-course supporting the battlements was present above this floor. The third floor consists of a rounded NW angle tower which contained a stair communicating with NW tower by a parallel sided doorway in W wall’.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 14 September 2016

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 Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.