Bawn

The National Monuments Service's description

On a spur of high ground at the E end of a low ridge, N of the Kings River. The site commands good views of the countryside to W, NW and S.
A bawn (dims. c. 50m N-S; c. 62m E-W based on enclosed area on 1st (1839 ed. OS 6-inch map) associated with Castle Eve, a multi-period castle complex is defined by a with a fortified house in the SW angle and a substantial mural tower (KK027-024003-) on the NW angle. The E portion of the bawn does not survive.
It is constructed of roughly coursed limestone rubble (max. H c. 6.5m; T including base-batter 1.6m; T above base-batter 1.2m). Stretches of the bawn wall are upstanding on the W and N sides, and at the W end of the S side. The best preserved portion is at the W end of the N side (L 26m), which has a pronounced base-batter. A wall-walk runs along the top of the bawn wall and from this the mural tower in the NW angle can be accessed through a first-floor doorway. Outside the bawn, on its W side, there is a broad deep moat which was crossed by a narrow stone-built bridge (Wth 3.5m; L 11.5m) positioned midway along this side. The bridge is flanked on its S side by the N wall of the fortified house. Corbels projecting out from this wall suggest that there may have been a small gate-house building over the bridge.
The 1st (1839) ed. OS 6-inch map, as well as the 1948 revision and 25-inch OS map, show a ‘Tower (in ruins)’ at the S end of the W wall of the bawn, which on the 25-inch map is drawn as being flush with the external W wall of the bawn but appears to project beyond the S wall, which suggests it was a mural tower. The fortified house in the SW angle may have been built up against it.

See attached:
KK027-024002-_01 View from NW
KK027-024002-_02 From NE, exterior where bawn meets tower
KK027-024002-_03 E end of internal N wall of bawn

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 28 March 2023